U.S. patent application number 12/174364 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-22 for automotive tray.
Invention is credited to Grace A. Heneghan.
Application Number | 20090020450 12/174364 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40263977 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090020450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heneghan; Grace A. |
January 22, 2009 |
AUTOMOTIVE TRAY
Abstract
An automotive tray includes a generally planar base with a top
surface, a bottom surface, a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a
right sidewall and a left sidewall, and portions of the bottom
surface having a rough texture to provide frictional engagement
when the tray is in use. A crumb tray is disposed in the base, is
recessed below the top surface, and extends below the bottom
surface to assist in preventing movement of the tray when in use.
The bottom surface may have a rough texture, such as one or more
frictional mats attached to the bottom surface of the tray. A
plurality of frictional strips may also be disposed on the top
surface of the tray, with the frictional strips extending partially
between the right and left sidewalls.
Inventors: |
Heneghan; Grace A.;
(Arlington Heights, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOK ALEX LTD
SUITE 2850, 200 WEST ADAMS STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
40263977 |
Appl. No.: |
12/174364 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60949973 |
Jul 16, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/567 ;
206/557 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/567 ;
206/557 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/36 20060101
B65D001/36 |
Claims
1. An automotive tray comprising: a generally planar base with a
top surface, a bottom surface, a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a
right sidewall and a left sidewall; and portions of said bottom
surface having a rough texture to provide frictional engagement
when the tray is in use, thereby limiting movement of the tray.
2. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
portions of said bottom surface having a rough texture comprise one
or more frictional mats attached to the bottom surface of the
automotive tray.
3. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising: a plurality of frictional strips disposed on the top
surface of the automotive tray.
4. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 3 wherein said
plurality of frictional strips extends partially between the right
sidewall and the left sidewall.
5. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1, said rear
sidewall rising to a first height above the top surface of the
generally planar base; and said front sidewall rising to a second
height above the top surface of the generally planar base, said
second height being greater than said first height.
6. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
second height is about two times the first height.
7. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising: a crumb tray disposed in a generally central location
between the pair of side edges.
8. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 6, wherein the
crumb tray is recessed below the top surface of the generally
planar base, and a portion of the crumb tray extends below the
bottom surface of the automotive tray.
9. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 8, wherein the
portion of the crumb tray which extends below the bottom surface of
the automotive tray assists in preventing lateral movement when the
automotive tray is in use.
10. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 8 further
comprising; a groove disposed about a perimeter of the crumb tray
adjacent to the top surface of the automotive tray; and a cover
with an edge, the edge of cover sized to fit into the groove to
cover the crumb tray when the crumb tray is not in use.
11. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 10, further
comprising: a recess defined in the groove to provide an area for
removing the cover by pressing upwardly against an underside of the
cover.
12. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising: a tab extending downwardly from said cover for engaging
a portion of the crumb tray to retain the cover over the crumb
tray.
13. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising a generally cylindrical depression formed in the
generally planar base for holding a beverage.
14. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 13 wherein the
generally cylindrical depression is disposed adjacent to the front
sidewall and one of the right or left sidewalls.
15. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising an aperture through the generally planar base for
grasping the automotive tray.
16. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 15 wherein the
aperture is disposed along the right sidewall or the left
sidewall.
17. The automotive tray in accordance with claim 15 wherein the
aperture is about 3 to 6 inches in length and about 1 to 2 inches
in width.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority to
U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/949,973, filed on
Jul. 16, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an automotive
tray for use by a person in a motor vehicle such as an automobile,
sport utility vehicle (SUV), truck or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Food trays are known to the prior art. Such trays are
frequently used in cafeterias for the collection of selected food
items from the available selection of food items. Usually, a user
of a food tray will also add a beverage, eating utensils such as a
spoon, knife and fork, and a napkin to the food tray.
[0004] Such food trays have a typically planar base with a slightly
raised perimeter edge. Food trays are often made in smooth molds
from fiberglass materials, which impart a smooth, slippery surface
to the underside of the food tray. While these food trays are
suitable for their intended purpose of resting on a table or the
like, they have shortcomings in an automotive environment. For
example, when the automobile is accelerating, stopping or turning,
the tray can easily slide off of a user's lap thereby spilling the
food items from the tray. Moreover, when in an automobile, it is
usually not possible for a user to immediately dispose of food
remnants, such as crumbs or the like. The user needs to wait until
the automobile stops at a place where the food remnants can be
properly disposed.
[0005] There has therefore been a need for an improved auto tray
which resolves the shortcomings of prior art food trays,
particularly in an automotive environment.
[0006] A general object of the present invention is therefore to
provide an auto tray which is better suited for use in an
automobile.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
auto tray which includes a crumb tray for temporarily storing small
food remnants or other waste.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
crumb tray in a center portion of the auto tray such that the crumb
tray also acts to center the auto tray between the user's
thighs.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
auto tray which has a textured undersurface for better frictional
engagement of the tray with the user's thighs or clothing.
[0010] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide an enlarged aperture through a portion of the auto tray
suitable for receiving a person's hand therein for more convenient
grasping or handling of the tray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is concerned with an improved
automotive tray for use while eating within a motor vehicle and
other uses. The automotive tray includes a generally planar base
with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front sidewall, a rear
sidewall, a right sidewall and a left sidewall, and portions of the
bottom surface having a rough texture to provide frictional
engagement when the tray is in use, thereby limiting movement of
the tray.
[0012] In an embodiment, the bottom surface may have a rough
texture, such as one or more frictional mats attached to the bottom
surface of the automotive tray. A plurality of frictional strips
may also be disposed on the top surface of the automotive tray, and
the plurality of frictional strips may extend partially between the
right sidewall and the left sidewall.
[0013] To better prevent spillage from the tray, the rear sidewall
rises to a first height above the top surface of the generally
planar base, and the front sidewall rises to a second height above
the top surface of the generally planar base, with the second
height being greater than the first height. For example, the second
height may be about two times the first height.
[0014] In a further embodiment of the automotive tray, a crumb tray
is disposed in a generally central location between the pair of
side edges. The crumb tray is recessed below the top surface of the
generally planar base, and a portion of the crumb tray extends
below the bottom surface of the automotive tray. The portion of the
crumb tray which extends below the bottom surface of the automotive
tray assists in preventing lateral movement when the automotive
tray is in use. A groove disposed about a perimeter of the crumb
tray adjacent to the top surface of the automotive tray. A cover
for the crumb tray has an edge sized to fit into the groove to
cover the crumb tray when the crumb tray is not in use. A recess
may be defined in the groove to provide an area for removing the
cover by pressing upwardly against an underside of the cover. A tab
extends downwardly from the cover for engaging a portion of the
crumb tray to retain the cover over the crumb tray.
[0015] A generally cylindrical depression may be formed in the
generally planar base for holding a beverage, or the like. The
generally cylindrical depression is preferably disposed adjacent to
the front sidewall and one of the right or left sidewalls.
[0016] An aperture is preferably provided through the generally
planar base for grasping the automotive tray. The aperture may be
disposed along the right sidewall or the left sidewall. For
example, the aperture may be about 3 to 6 inches in length and
about 1 to 2 inches in width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention, together with its objects and the advantages
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference numerals identify like elements in the
figures, and in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view illustrating an auto tray
in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view further illustrating the
auto tray of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective top view further illustrating the
auto tray of FIG. 1 with a cover installed over the crumb tray in
accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an elevational front view further illustrating the
auto tray of FIGS. 1-3 in accordance with the present invention;
and
[0022] FIG. 5 is an elevational side view further illustrating the
auto tray of FIGS. 1-4 in accordance with the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The
present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered
in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the
invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.
[0024] With reference to the drawing Figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a
perspective top view of an auto tray, generally designated 100, and
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective bottom view of the auto tray 100.
Auto tray 100 may be manufactured by molding, such as by known
plastic injection molding techniques. For example, auto tray 100
may be injection molded using high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
materials.
[0025] Auto tray has a generally flat or planar working surface
102. Working surface 102 is recessed below sidewalls, including a
front sidewall 104, a back sidewall 105, a right sidewall 106 and a
left sidewall 107. As seen in FIG. 2, sidewalls 104-107 may have
rolled-over edges which provide the top surfaces of the sidewalls
104-107 with a smoother effect. Back sidewall 105 may be curved
inwardly to more gently contact a user's abdomen, as when the auto
tray 100 is resting on the user's thighs while seated in an
automobile.
[0026] It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the front sidewall 104 is
preferably of a greater height than rear sidewall 105, and that
right and left sidewalls 106-107 gradually increase in height from
the back sidewall 105 to the front sidewall 104. Stated another
way, the depth of the recessed working area 102 increases from the
back sidewall 105 toward the front sidewall 104. For example, rear
sidewall 105 may be about 1/4 to 1 inch in height and front
sidewall 104 may be about 1/2 to 11/2 inches in height. Right and
left sidewalls 106-107 gradually increase in height from the back
sidewall 105 to the front sidewall 104. The reason or purpose that
the front sidewall 104 is higher than the rear sidewall is to help
control food or beverage spills from the auto tray onto the
upholstery or carpet of the vehicle.
[0027] Right sidewall 106 is sufficiently wide between the back
sidewall 105 and the front sidewall 104 to accommodate a beverage
holder 108 and an elongated aperture 110. Beverage holder 108 may
be a cylindrical depression of a diameter suitable for holding a
glass, cup, or the like. The bottom surface, and the sides if
desired, of the beverage holder 108 may include an insert of rubber
or the like to provide more friction to a cup or glass such that
the cup or glass does not slip or slide while in beverage holder
108, thereby assisting in avoiding spillage of a beverage. Other
alternative structures will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. For example, the bottom and/or sides of beverage holder 108
may be coated with a material which increases the coefficient of
friction, or the bottom and/or sides of beverage holder 108 may be
formed with rough surfaces when the auto tray 100 is formed by
injection molding.
[0028] Aperture 110 in sidewall 106 is preferably of sufficient
size to accommodate a user's hand, and more specifically, the four
fingers of a user's hand such that auto tray 100 may be easily
grasped about a portion of sidewall 106 by inserting a portion of a
hand into aperture 108. For example, aperture 110 may be about 3 to
6 inches in length and about 1 to 2 inches in width.
[0029] Disposed in a central location in the working surface 102 is
a crumb tray 112. Crumb tray 112 is useful for receiving crumbs and
other small food remains when auto tray 100 is used for eating.
Crumb tray 112 extends below the working surface 102. Disposed
about the perimeter of the crumb tray 112 is a groove 114. The
edges of a cover 120 for the crumb tray 112 fit into groove 114
when cover 120 is placed over crumb tray 112. Cover 120 in its
installed position over crumb tray 112 is shown in FIG. 3. A recess
116 in the perimeter of crumb tray 112 may be used for removing
cover 120, as by inserting a finger into the recess 116 and lifting
the underside of the cover 120 upwardly. As seen in FIG. 1, the
underside of cover 120 may have a downwardly depending tab 122 to
engage a portion of crumb tray 112 when cover 120 is installed
thereover, thereby retaining cover 120 in its installed
position.
[0030] Preferably, crumb tray 112 extends below the generally
planar underside of working surface 102, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.
For example, crumb tray 112 may extend from 0.25 inches to 2 or
more inches below the underside of working surface 102. Thus, when
auto tray 100 is in use, crumb tray 112 may be positioned between
the user's thighs. In this position, crumb tray 112 assists in
limiting any lateral movement of the auto tray which could result
in spillage of any food or beverage on the auto tray. It will be
further appreciated that the bottom portion of beverage holder 108
may also be extended to be disposed below the underside of working
surface 102 to also assist in limiting lateral movement of the auto
tray when the auto tray is positioned on a user's thighs.
[0031] If desired, auto tray 100 may also be equipped with
frictional mats 202 and 203 may be applied to the underside of the
auto tray with adhesives, such as on opposite sides of the crumb
tray 112 as shown in FIG. 2. For example, frictional mats 202-203
may have a rubber-like surface for resting upon the user's thighs
to assist in preventing undesired movement of the auto tray while
in use. To this end, the surfaces of frictional mats 202-203 may be
textured to increase the frictional effect. Alternatively, if
desired, those areas covered by frictional mats 202-203 may be
provided with a textured surface during the injection molding of
auto tray 100.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the upper side of working surface 102
may also be provided with a plurality of frictional strips 302-307,
if so desired. Strips 302-307 will then assist in preventing
slippage of items on working surface 102, such as when the vehicle
is acceleration, braking or turning. Alternatively, frictional
strips 302-307 may be formed during the injection molding of the
auto tray 100.
[0033] The auto tray 100 thus assists in preventing undesired
spills, such as to the upholstery and/or carpeting of a vehicle.
The higher sidewalls also assist in preventing any spills from
reaching the upholstery or carpeting. The auto tray may be about 12
by 18 inches for an adult. Smaller versions may be made for
children.
[0034] Of course, the auto tray is suitable for other uses or
activities besides holding food items while the user is eating in
the vehicle. For example, a user may find the auto tray convenient
for resting a book while reading in the vehicle. Similarly, the
user may find the auto tray convenient for use with hobbies while
traveling, such as knitting, sorting photos, or the like. The auto
tray also provides a convenient writing or working surface while
traveling.
[0035] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
* * * * *