Abstract:
A removably mountable tray support device for attachment of a tray to articles of furniture, especially those having upholstery or substantial padding. The device has a clamping assembly with a generally C-shaped frame and has a means for manually securing the device to a portion of upholstered furniture. A bracket attached to the frame extends outwardly therefrom preferably in a horizontal orientation to receive alone, or in combination, a tray or similar item to provide a temporary table surface. Posts may be provided to support the bracket and thereby increase the stability of the surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention described herein relates generally to attachments that can be removably mounted on a piece of furniture or the like in order to support a complementary piece of furniture. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tray support assembly as above described that can be removably mounted to the back or arm of a sofa or chair, or similar pieces of furniture, and may be used alone or in combination to support the surface of a sofa table, end table or the like.  
           [0002]    Even if a modern home is furnished adequately for day-to-day living, it is often the case that a temporary need will arise for additional table or shelf space, as when entertaining a large group of guests. Similarly, circumstances may arise when a table or shelf is needed either for individual convenience or to attend to the elderly or infirm. There is, therefore, a need for a sturdy, inexpensive and simple means for providing temporary furnishings that can be attached to existing furniture and later removed without damage thereto.  
           [0003]    Attachment devices that attach to furniture to provide an auxiliary function are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,709,563 and 4,728,069 respectively disclose a tray support and an article attachment that clamp to the edge of the horizontal surface of a table and function as receptacles for holding various items. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,891 discloses a support bracket that clamps to a vertically disposed surface for holding advertising displays. However, these devices either employ a cantilevered support which is inherently limited by the rigidity of the clamp, or limit instead the position of the attachment to a location close to the clamp. This poses a problem when there is no rigid edge to which a clamp can be affixed, therefore limiting the weight that the attachments of the prior art can support.  
           [0004]    This problem is especially evident in the case of a contemporary sofa or chair wherein the frame is covered with heavy padding and upholstery that is not conducive to rigid clamping. In such a case, the prior art attachment devices have shortcomings related to their clamping and support geometry and would not provide a reliable means of support.  
           [0005]    The present invention provides a support attachment that overcomes the problems of the prior art that is removably mountable to the vertical side edge of a piece of furniture, including upholstered furniture, in such a manner that provides substantial support for complementary furniture such as sofa tables and end tables and the objects placed thereon.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to the present invention, a tray support assembly or device is removably mountable on any article of furniture including those with upholstery for supporting objects in the same way as a tabletop or a shelf. In one embodiment of the invention, a frame having a shape generally defining an opening adapted to receive some portion of an article of furniture has a clamp to tighten the frame to the furniture. A bracket connected to the frame supports a tray or other device on which articles can be placed. In an alternate embodiment, the frame is provided with a series of hooks that engage the furniture in addition to the clamp to increase the stability of the support. In another embodiment, the frame is formed of two adjustable parts to permit its opening to be adjusted to the size of the furniture to which it is attached. In a further embodiment, a support leg is provided between the bracket and the floor to increase the load capacity of the tray support assembly.  
           [0007]    The tray support assembly herein described can be used alone or in combination with other tray support assemblies to accommodate a larger tray and further increase its load capacity. These and other objects will become apparent, as will a better understanding of the concepts underlying the present invention, by reference to the detailed description that follows taken with the drawings in which: 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to an article of furniture.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a side view showing the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of still another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 a  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the clamp of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 b  is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment of the clamp of the invention as shown in FIG. 3.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows a pair of tray support assemblies  10 ,  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention installed on the arm  102  of sofa  100 . As shown, frames  12 ,  12  have a shape that conforms to the contour of arm  102  of sofa  100 . Brackets  14 ,  14  are individually connected to frames  12 ,  12  and have lips  24 ,  24  protruding upward therefrom. Clamp  16  (second clamp  16  not shown) is threaded and is shown journalled within frame  12 . Support posts  42 ,  42  rest on the floor and are connected to brackets  14 ,  14 . Tray surface  40  is rectangular and is shown placed lengthwise across brackets  14 ,  14  between frames  12 ,  12  and lips  24 ,  24 . The components of tray support assemblies  10 ,  10  may be made of any suitable material such as metal or reinforced plastic. Similarly, support posts  42 ,  42  may be made of suitable material such as metal or plastic and may be made adjustable in length, for example, being formed of segments  44 ,  46 ,  48  that are preferably either telescoping or otherwise adjustable in length.  
         [0015]    The tray support assemblies  10 ,  10  provide support for tray surface  40  when attached to sofa  100 . During use, clamps  16  are driven by their threaded surfaces toward arm  102  of sofa  100  until firmly engaged therewith. As discussed in greater detail below, clamps  16  retard the movement of tray support assemblies  10 ,  10  relative to sofa  100 , thereby providing vertical support for tray surface  40  via brackets  14 ,  14 . Further vertical support for brackets  14 ,  14  is provided by support posts  42 ,  42  which complement the action of clamps  16  in preventing movement of tray support assemblies  10 ,  10  by extending from brackets  14 ,  14  to the floor. When positioned on the back or arm of a sofa  100  as shown, this configuration of the present invention permits objects or other loads (not shown) to be supportably placed on tray surface  40 , tray surface  40  thereby functioning as a sofa table or end table.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows one of tray support assemblies  10 ,  10  of FIG. 1 in greater detail. Frame  12 , is shaped to conform generally to the contour of the article of furniture to which it is attached. In this case, frame  12  is generally C-shaped, and has an inner  26  and an outer  28  end defining opening  30 . Bracket  14  is attached to the outer end  28  of frame  12  and clamp  16  is mounted at the inner end  26  of the frame  12 . Clamp  16  comprises threaded shaft  18 , journalled within a threaded bore (not shown) in frame  12 . A thumb wheel  20  is attached to the end of shaft  18  on the outside of frame  12 , and thrust plate  22  is attached to the inside end of shaft  18  within opening  30 . Bracket  14  has lip  24  extending upward therefrom.  
         [0017]    During use, one or more tray support assemblies  10  are positioned on the back or arm of a sofa, chair or other suitable surface of an article of furniture so as to support a tray or other device on which articles can be placed. Specifically, the arm or back of a sofa, for example, is received within opening  30  in frame  12  of each tray support assembly  10 . Thumb wheel  20  on each frame  12  is rotated, driving shaft  18  until the thrust plate  22  of clamp  16  is in contact with the sofa, locking frames  12  thereto. After the frames  12  have been secured, brackets  14  should be level. A tray  40  as shown in FIG. 1 is then placed on and supported by brackets  14  and held in place within the recess created between lip  24  and the outer end  28  of frame  12 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the tray support assembly  10  of the present invention wherein the inner end  26  of frame  12  is provided with hooks  32 . Clamp  16  is shown on outer end  28  of frame  12  and joumalled within a bore therethrough (not shown). The hooks  32  may be made of the same material as frame  12  or of a similar suitable material. Hooks  32  are preferably biased against the tendency of frame  12  to move due to moment M created by force F which is applied to bracket  14  by the objects placed thereon. In this case, hooks  32  are shown biased upward. Thrust plate  22  is shown with pin  34  extending into opening  30 .  
         [0019]    When an article of furniture is locked within opening  30  by clamp  16 , pin  34  pierces the clamped furniture to resist movement of frame  12  due to force F.  
         [0020]    Simultaneously, hooks  32  frictionally engage the furniture to further resist movement of frame  12  and act to prevent the frame  12  from rotating or sliding relative to the furniture. Thus, hooks  32  increase the stability of bracket  14 , and permit the relocation of clamp  16  to outer end  28  of frame  12  where it can be out of the way.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 shows another alternate embodiment of the invention wherein frame  12  has a second interconnected component, sliding member  12   a . Clamp  16  is provided at the interface between frame  12  and sliding member  12   a , and two sets of hooks  32  directed into opening  30  are provided on the frame, one set on sliding member  12   a , and the other on frame  12 . To adjust the size of opening  30  to permit the tray support assembly  10  to be mounted on the article of furniture (not shown) sliding member  12   a  is moved relative to frame  12  until the desired dimension or form is achieved. Clamp  16  is then tightened to lock the two components, frame  12  and sliding member  12   a , together. Hooks  32  secure the frame  12  relative to the furniture.  
         [0022]    Lip  24  is omitted from this embodiment, and replaced by slip-retardant or adhesive surface  33  disposed on bracket  14 . During use, this configuration permits trays of varying sizes to be securely placed on and supported by bracket  14 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show in greater detail possible variations in the clamp  16 . In FIG. 4 a , the thrust plate  22  is shown slightly convex, and having a slip retarding surface  36 , such as rubber, disposed thereon. Such a construction would be appropriate for attachment to furniture having upholstery such as leather that is easily scuffed or damaged by piercing. FIG. 4 b  shows thrust plate  22  of clamp  16  having pin  34  and a surface with a plurality of spike-like protrusions  38 . When attached to furniture upholstered with cloth, a good frictional contact can be obtained by insertion of pin  34  into the upholstery, and by the gripping action of spikes  38 . By employing various combinations of the frames and clamps described, the present invention can accommodate articles of furniture having many different shapes and materials.  
         [0024]    While the foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate several preferred embodiments of the tray support assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention, it will be appreciated that certain modifications may be made to the structure of the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims which are set forth immediately below.