AU2004202055B2 - Multipurpose Tray - Google Patents

Description

Form No.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application No.: Application Date: Priority Date: Applicant: 10 June 2003 (New Zealand Patent Application No. 526417) CRESSEY FURNITURE LIMITED New Zealand company PO Box 32 041 Christchurch New Zealand Schuch Company PO Box 10 615 Wellington New Zealand Address for Service: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: MULTIPURPOSE TRAY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: MULTIPURPOSE TRAY TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to trays and collapsible tables. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a foldaway tray table that also functions as a slidable tray.

BACKGROUND ART Conventional trays or small tables used to allow persons to consume meals in bed or elsewhere, or for other convenient purposes, have a top and fixed legs or, in some cases, collapsible legs. Such trays are cumbersome when not in use and may not be easily and compactly stored.

It is a non-limiting object of the invention to provide a multifunctional tray that overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a multifunctional tray, the tray including a rigid top surface and a tray support and elevation means associated with the top surface, the tray support and elevation means being adjustable between a collapsed position and an extended position, and a tray receiving means adapted, in use, to allow the tray to slide into and out of the tray receiving means when the tray is in a collapsed position, and having a means to pull the tray from the tray receiving means.

Preferably the tray receiving means comprises a cavity or housing including a slot for receiving the tray therewithin when in a fully collapsed position. Desirably the tray receiving means is locatable in a piece of furniture or support structure. Advantageously the tray receiving means is located in a bedside cabinet.

Preferably the tray support and elevation means includes a plurality of legs. Desirably the tray support and elevation means is configured and arranged with a plurality of elevation settings, in use, to adjust the distance between the top surface and the distal end of the tray support and elevation means.

Desirably the tray support and elevation means includes two pairs of legs, each pair of legs being pivotably attachable to the top surface. Desirably the tray receiving means adapted to include a pair of roller means associated with a guide means configured and arranged in the direction of travel of the tray, in use, as the tray is slidably received and removed from the housing.

Additionally a lip is provided about the outer edges of the top surface of the tray.

Preferably the tray further comprises two opposing end members and two opposing side members connected about the periphery of the top surface to increase the level of rigidity of the top surface. Desirably the tray support and elevation means is pivotably attached to the side members.

Advantageously the tray support and elevation means is provided with a fastening means to secure the tray support and elevation means in the collapsed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: Shows a side view of the multifunctional tray with legs in an extended position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: Shows a side view of the multifunctional tray with legs in a retracted or collapsed position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 3: Shows a plan view of figure 2 without the rigid top surface; Figure 4: Shows a front view of the housing for retaining the multifunctional tray; and Figure 5: Shows a side view of the housing for retaining the multifunctional tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to figures 1 to 3, a multipurpose or multifunctional tray, generally referred to as 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

A tray 1 advantageously includes a rigid top surface in the form of a substantially planar top 2. Additionally the top 2 may be clashed to form a lip 2a about the outer edges of the top 2, if required. The top 2 is desirably supported by opposing end members 3 and opposing side members 4 to increase the level of rigidity and stability of the top 2. Further, the opposing side members 4 and the opposing end members 3 provide a rigid top area such as to allow a tray support and elevation means to be pivotably attachable thereto.

The tray support and elevation means is associated with the top 2 and functions to support and elevate the top 2, as required, between a collapsed position and an extended position. It will be appreciated that the tray support means may be configured and arranged with a plurality of elevation settings, in use, to allow a user to adjust the distance between the top 2 and the distal end of the legs 5a,5b, as required.

The tray support means in this non-limiting preferred embodiment includes a plurality of legs represented by the crossover legs 5a,5b. The near end of each leg 5a,5b is pivotally attachable to respective portions of the side members 4. It will be appreciated that the legs can alternatively be adapted to be pivotally connected to the underside of the top 2 or any other suitable point of attachment.

Preferably the axes of the pivot points 6 of each leg 5a, 5b are locatable through the side members 4 in a spaced apart arrangement as shown more clearly in figure 3. The pivot points 6 may be provided in any desirable form and may include dowels, pins, bolts or otherwise. In this embodiment dowels are provided as the pivot points 6.

Suitably mounted spacer blocks 7 are attached between the side members 4 and the inner positioned leg 5a or 5b to ensure that when the legs 5a,5b are pivoted to the fully collapsed position, as seen in figure 3, the legs 5a,5b are desirably retracted in place such as not to protrude beyond the thickness of the overall tray top 2, defined in figure 1 as dimension X.

It is seen that opposing pairs of legs 5a,5b are further stabilised by spacer tie members 8 located between each of the pairs of legs 5a and 5b. As seen clearly in figure 3, the spacer members 8 are preferably mounted such that the swing plane of the legs 5a do not interfere with the swing plane of the opposing pair of legs Preferably the tray 1 includes a leg fastening means to secure the legs within dimension X when the legs 5a,5b are in the fully retracted or collapsed position. Desirably the leg fastening means is in the form of opposing hook and loop tabs 9 in that the hook or loop tab is adhered to the underside of the top 2 and the opposing hook or loop tab is adhered to a said leg 5a or 5b facing the top 2 mounted tab such that, when in the collapsed position, each leg can be secured to the top 2. This will increase the likelihood that the legs 5a,5b do not interfere with the sliding function of the tray 1 when the legs 5a,5b are in a collapsed position.

The tray support means may incorporate means to lock the legs in the extended position for stability purposes, and such a feature may be achieved using any known securing device preventing the respective legs 5a,5b from rotating about the pivot point 6.

It will be seen that the tray 1 can be conveniently used as a breakfast tray for a person sitting up in bed, or for any other desirable purpose whereby a tray can be adapted to provide an elevated platform. It is considered that the tray could be set up on the floor or in any position such as to provide an additional top surface. The top 2 can be custom designed for the main purpose intended. For example, a lightweight top 2 can be used when a breakfast tray is required, and be made of glass or dense fibreboard when a more robust tray is required, such as when being used as a small table.

It is considered within the scope of the invention that the legs 5a,5b of the tray 1 can be collapsed and used in the sliding tray mode, or simply be stored away.

The tray 1 is provided with a means to pull the tray 1 in the form of a handle or knob 10 for use when pulling the tray 1 from the tray receiving means in the form of a housing, as more clearly shown in figure 4 as housing 20. The knob 10 can be mounted on or in the side member 4 and, as shown, can be desirably mounted centrally.

Other tray support and elevating means can include legs that crossover when collapsed.

Alternatively, pivoted fold down panels may be mounted to the underside of the top 2.

Referring now to figures 4 and 5, a tray housing, generally referred to as 20, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, is illustrated.

When the tray 1 is not required in the remote mode it can be received within a slotted housing in a piece of furniture, or fixture, or solid structure or the like. The tray housing 20 is shown in figures 4 and 5 as being provided in a bedside cabinet 21 in a location adjacent the top surface. This location is desirable as it provides an additional working surface for a user.

It will, however, be appreciated that the housing 20 may be provided in any desirably location in or on any piece of furniture or structure, whether fixed or mobile, as required.

The tray 1 is slidably associated with the housing 20. The housing 20 may be any cavity arrangement and may be a slot provided in a front panel mounted to a structure or comprise a plurality of components defining a slot opening within which the tray is slidably supported.

In this embodiment a bedside cabinet 21 is illustrated, and wherein the cabinet components are adapted to define a predetermined height indicated as dimension X and predetermined dimension Y corresponding with the length of the tray top 2. Figure 5 shows dimension Z corresponding to the depth of the tray 1.

The tray 1 can be set on a pair of roller means desirably in the form of a pair of standard runners, or simply slide over a substantially horizontal base frame. It is envisaged that the tray 1 can be configured and arranged to be associated with a guide means arranged in the direction of travel of the tray 1 to be slidable out and away from the housing 20 to provide the required amount of surface area. When functioning as a tray 1 for a bedside cabinet 21, the tray 1 may serve to support drinks and/or books and the like, and may be stored fully within the housing 20 after use.

It will be appreciated that the tray 1 can be readily converted between the sliding mode and the remote tray table mode conveniently and simply.

The invention is made of any desirable resilient and durable materials such as, for example, wood, plastics materials, metal or otherwise, or any combination thereof including components made of glass and/or ceramics or otherwise. Preferably most of the components of the tray 1 include wood, and such wood can be solid, laminated, fibre, chip or other available and suitable timber. The legs 5a,5b may be made of tubular metal and/or plastics materials to form a lightweight tray 1.

It will be appreciated that materials used for components of the invention include suitable and durable materials, for example only but not limited to, timber, metal, plastics materials, fabrics, rubber, glass, or any combination thereof. In this embodiment many of the components are made of timber.

Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated.

Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. 2. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray receiving means comprises a cavity or housing including a slot for receiving the tray therewithin when in a fully collapsed position.
2. 3. A multifunctional tray according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tray receiving means is locatable in a piece of furniture or support structure.
3. 4. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray receiving means is located in a bedside cabinet. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray support and elevation means includes a plurality of legs.
4. 6. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray support and elevation means includes two pairs of legs, each pair of legs being pivotably attachable to the top surface.
5. 7. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray receiving means is adapted to include a pair of roller means associated with a guide means configured NOand arranged in the direction of travel of the tray, in use, as the tray is slidably received and removed from the housing. o 8. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein a lip is provided about the outer 5 edges of the top surface of the tray. n 9. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 further comprising two opposing end members and two opposing side members connected about the periphery of the top surface to increase the level of rigidity of the top surface. S A multifunctional tray according to claim 9 wherein the tray support and elevation means is pivotably attached to the side members.
6. 11. A multifunctional tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray support and elevation means is provided with a fastening means to secure the tray support and elevation means in the collapsed position.
7. 12. A multifunctional tray substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. Dated: this 29th day of September 2006 CRESSEY FURNITURE LIMITED By their Attorneys SCHUCH COMPANY