Abstract:
An apparatus for providing a work surface in an automobile. A first portion including a rigid member is hingedly coupled to a tray portion including a rigid member. Straps or other attachment mechanism is coupled to the first portion to allow the apparatus to be attached to an automobile seat back. The first portion is attached in a position adjacent to the seat back, and the tray portion is rotated downward in an arc to a desired orientation, most commonly substantially parallel to the ground. A retainer retains the tray portion in the desired orientation relative to the seat back.  
     In one embodiment, a cord and cord-lock are used as the retainer. The cord and cord lock allow adjustment of the orientation of the tray portion through a continuum when the apparatus is installed. This permits the apparatus to accommodate a wide variety of seat backs having broadly varying angles. Pocketing of various types may be disposed in a volume between the first portion and the tray portion.

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    An apparatus for providing a work surface in an automobile is disclosed. A first portion including a rigid member is hingedly coupled to a tray portion including a rigid member. Straps or other attachment mechanism is coupled to the first portion to allow the apparatus to be attached to an automobile seat back. The first portion is attached in a position adjacent to the seat back, and the tray portion is rotated downward in an arc to a desired orientation, most commonly substantially parallel to the ground. A retainer retains the tray portion in the desired orientation relative to the seat back.  
           [0002]    In one embodiment, a cord and cord-lock are used as the retainer. The cord and cord lock allow adjustment of the orientation of the tray portion through a continuum when the apparatus is installed. This permits the apparatus to accommodate a wide variety of seat backs having broadly varying angles. Pocketing of various types may be disposed in a volume between the first portion and the tray portion.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the seat back tray assembly of the invention being carried in a closed orientation.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 shows a back perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automobile seat back having one embodiment of the invention installed thereon.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the seat back  60  having one embodiment of the invention installed thereon in a closed orientation.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the open tray assembly of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of one embodiment of the invention in use.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the seat back tray assembly of the invention being carried in a closed orientation. In the closed orientation, the tray assembly appears similar to a small briefcase. A first portion  1  forms a back surface of the seat back tray assembly. In one embodiment, first portion  1  is made by enveloping a rigid member of, for example, cardboard, sheet metal, wood, fiberglass, or similar material in a flexible material envelope. Cardboard is preferred because it is more easily deformable in an accident that some of the other alternatives, and therefore, less likely to cause serious injury to a passenger using the tray at the time of an accident. In one embodiment, hot pressed art board of 0.060 inches thickness is used. A flexible hinge  2  hingedly couples the first portion  1  to a tray portion  3 . Tray portion  3  is of a similar construction to first portion  1 . The flexible material envelope may be constructed of cloth, either natural or synthetic, leather, plastic, foil or nearly any other flexible material. In a preferred embodiment, nylon cloth is used to form the envelopes. Finishing tape is sewn through cardboard rigid members around top and both lateral edges of each rigid member, e.g., the three sides not adjacent to the hinge  2 . This prevents fraying of the enveloping material and prevent movement of the rigid members relative to the envelope. The hinge  2  permits the tray portions  3  to be rotated through an arc of 180° from nearly parallel to the first portion (e.g., the closed orientation), thereby permitting a wide range of possible tray surface orientations. The first portion  1 , the tray portion  3 , and an intermediate portion  7  define a volume of the seat back tray assembly. A closure means such as a zipper  5  or hook and loop tab material  13 ,  14  are used to maintain the tray in a closed orientation when being carried or not in use.  
         [0011]    Handle  15  is coupled to a top intermediate region. In one exemplary embodiment, the handle  15  is made of nylon webbing and coupled to a third rigid member in a flexible material envelope. For example, if the rigid member is cardboard, the handle may be sewn through to both the exterior layer of the envelope and the rigid member. For rigid members of other material alternative attachment means such as staples, rivets, tacks, screws, or other similar devices. In this manner, the load is more evenly distributed, and the handle is less likely to tear off from the rest of the assembly.  
         [0012]    A cord  4  is used to provide maximal adjustment of an angle of a tray surface (not shown) as is described further below. A retainer such as cord-lock  9  is coupled to the cord to insure that a chosen orientation is maintained. Cord-lock  9  can be slid along the cord between a knot or stop at one end, a maximum retention point at the other. At the maximum retention point, the tray is in the closed orientation. Thus, if no zipper  5  or velcro tab assembly  13 ,  14  were provided to maintain closure, the cord  4  and cord-lock  9  could be used to maintain the tray assembly in a closed orientation. A mesh pocket  30  is shown sewn to the exterior surface of the tray portion  3 . The mesh pocket  30  provides a convenient receptacle for the cord  4  and cord-lock  9  when the seat back tray assembly is being carried. It may also be used to store other things.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows a back perspective view of one embodiment of the invention. In this figure, a portion of the material envelope has been cut away to show rigid member  36  and cord  4  inside. First portion  1  has straps  8  coupled thereto. One strap  8  comprises strap segments  28  and  29 . Strap segment  28  is a length of loop material, while strap segment  29  is a length of nylon webbing with a segment of hook material  31  coupled thereto. A second strap is composed of two segments each having subsegments. An elastic subsegment  32  is coupled to first portion  1 . In turn, a nylon webbing subsegment  33  is coupled thereto. Nylon subsegment  33  has disposed thereon one moiety of hook and loop material for each segment Thus, the segments can be coupled together around a seat by interlocking corresponding hook and loop material portions. Cord  4  is shown engaging rigid member  36  as described more fully below. In an alternate embodiment, the straps are detachably coupled to the first portion using, for example, snaps. This permits the straps  8  to be removed when dangling straps would otherwise be inconvenient.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automobile seat back having one embodiment of the invention installed thereon. Attachment straps  8  are coupled to the first portion as described in relation to FIG. 2. Numerous embodiments of the straps are possible. In one embodiment, strap  8  has two strap segments  11  and  12  which detachably coupled together at connection point  16 . This detachable coupling may be affected by hook and loop material, snaps, buckles, or any other conventional fastening means. In an alternative embodiment, the straps are coupled to first portion  1 , and are continuous. In this embodiment, an elastic material should be used for at least a portion of the strap to permit the straps to be stretched over varying seat sizes. In still another embodiment, the combination of these techniques may be used wherein strap segment  11  and  12  comprise an elastic subsegment coupled to, for example, a nylon webbing subsegment with fastening means disposed on an opposing end. In yet another embodiment, strap segment  11  is one moiety of hook or loop material over its entire length, while strap segment  12  may be the other moiety of either hook or loop material or may be, for example, nylon webbing with a segment of the other moiety hook or loop material coupled thereto. As made clear above, in an embodiment having more than a single strap  8 , the individual straps may embody different of the features described above. All the foregoing embodiments are within the scope and contemplation of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the seat back  60  having one embodiment of the invention installed thereon in a closed orientation. As shown in this view, the tray assembly can be left in a closed orientation attached to the seat  60  without significantly limiting backseat passenger space. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 5, zipper  5  is being unzipped to open the tray. Loop tab  14  has already been disengaged from hook patch  13 . Once zipper  15  has been unzipped around three sides of the assembly, the tray portion  3  can be rotated in an arc around the hinged coupling  2  until cord-lock  9  retains it at a final orientation. In FIG. 5, a portion of the envelope of the tray portion  3  has been cut away to show rigid member  37 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the open tray assembly of one embodiment of the invention. The tray portion  3  is rotated relative to the first portion in an arch about hinge  2  such that the tray portion adopts a known orientation. The tray surface of the tray portion may then be used as, e.g., a writing surface or merely to hold items for later use. The zipper  5  runs just inside lateral edges  18  and top edge  17  of the tray portion  3  and forms a small lip which helps to keep items on the tray surface  10  from rolling or sliding off. The cord  4  slidably engages a pair of holes  6  in tray portion  3 . The position of the cord-lock (not shown) on the cord  4  dictates the angle relative to the first portion that the tray will be retained. As discussed above, a wide range of angles can be accommodated. In this connection, it is preferred that cord  4  have low elasticity so that the cord  4  will not stretch when weight is applied to the tray surface  10 . Cord that stretches {fraction (1/16)}″ per inch of length has been found to be acceptable.  
         [0017]    In one embodiment, a single length of cord  4  is slidably coupled to the first portion  1 . Specifically, a pair of holes are made in the inner surface of the envelope and the rigid member of the first portion  1 . A corresponding pair of holes is made completely through the tray portion  3 . The cord  4  is threaded through a first hole and out a second hole in the first portion so as to engage rigid member  36  (as shown in FIG. 2). Each end is then threaded through the one corresponding pair of holes in the tray portion. The cord-lock is disposed on the cord and the two end cords can be optionally knotted together to insure the cord-lock remains disposed thereon. The holes are preferably bored near the top of the first portion  1  and tray portion  3 , where the top edge  17  is defined to be the edge of the tray portion that rotates the greatest distance when the tray is opened. It is also preferred that each hole be near a lateral edge  18  of the respective portion. In this way, the load is distributed across the rigid member  36  of the first portion, and the structural integrity of the tray assembly is increased. In an alternate embodiment, two lengths of cord are used and merely knotted or otherwise made so as to not pull through the holes in the first portion.  
         [0018]    A plurality of pockets can be provided inside the tray assembly for retaining a wide variety of articles. In the shown embodiment, a cylindrical pocket  20  is provided suitable for holding cylindrical objects such as a beverage can or soft drink glass. The pen pocket  27  and glasses pocket  38  are also provided. Pocket  21  is provided with cover  22  to retain its contents. A fastener such as hook and loop material may be used to retain the cover  22  of pocket  21  in a closed orientation. Similarly, pocket  25  has a cover  26  with fastening members  24  to ensure the contents of pocket  25  remain therein during transport. Any combination of pockets with or without covers is within the scope and contemplation of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of one embodiment of the invention in use. Because different seat backs have different angles relative to the ground and these angles also vary from front to back of a single seat, the ability to adjust the tray angle through a continuum is particularly advantageous. This allows the tray surface to be nearly parallel with the ground regardless of the angle of the seat back. Additionally, the tray angle can be easily adjusted to accommodate reclining or straightening the seat back in accordance with passenger preference. Moreover, if for some reason it becomes desirable to have the tray surface at a tilt relative to the ground, e.g., to simulate a drawing table, one need only slide the retainer along the cord until a desired tilt is achieved. In FIG. 7, the invention is strapped to seat  60  with attachment straps  8  such that the outer surface of first portion  1  is in contact with the back of seat  60 . Conversely, in FIG. 8, the exterior surface&#39;s first portion  1  is in contact with the front of seat back  60 . When installed as shown in FIG. 7, the seat back travel tray provides a desk-like surface usable by a backseat passenger. For example, a child in the backseat may use it to color on or even as, for example, a lunch table on a long trip. When installed as shown in FIG. 8, the assembly provides a good location for storing items a driver wants to have within easy reach.  
         [0020]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.