Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MULTI-PIECE ACCESSORY TRAY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an accessory tray, and particularly to an
accessory tray configured to hold items associated with feeding young
children. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an accessory tray that couples
to an
existing tray of a high chair.
Caregivers often lack a handy place to store bottles, juice boxes, cups,
spoons, towels, and/or food items associated with feeding young children
seated in
chairs, such as high chairs, while the caregivers sit or stand alongside the
chair during
mealtime. In some envirormnents, a table or kitchen counter may not be near to
the
caregiver as the caregiver helps to feed a young child seated in a chair
having a tray.
As a result, no convenient place exists for the caregiver to place those items
to be used
by the caregiver during feeding of a young child seated in a chair or other
juvenile
seat.
According to this disclosure, an accessory tray includes a first tray
portion adapted to mount on a perimeter of a high chair tray. The first tray
portion
has a top surface for holding items and a first side and a second side. A
second tray
portion having a top surface for holding items is adapted to mount on the
first side of
the first tray portion. A third tray portion is also provided and has a top
surface for
holding items. The third tray portion is adapted to mount on the second side
of the
first tray portion.
In an illustrative embodiment, the second and third tray portions each
include a set of slots and the first tray portion includes first and second
sets of tabs
that are received by respective sets of slots to couple the second and third
tray
portions to the first tray portion. In addition, the second and third tray
portions each
include a catch and the first tray portion includes apertures that receive the
catches to
lock the second and third tray portions to the first tray portion. The first,
second, and
third tray portions are formed to hold various items, such as spoons, forks,
cups, and
bowls, that a caregiver uses when feeding a child. In addition, the first tray
portion
includes a towel bar.
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Features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently
perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying
figures in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an accessory tray in
accordance with the present disclosure, the accessory tray including a first
tray
portion, a second tray portion, and a third tray portion, the second and third
tray
portions being configured to couple to the first tray portion, which in turn
couples to a
perimeter of a high chair tray;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the accessory tray mounted on a
front edge of the high chair tray, the second and third tray portions coupled
to the first
tray portion on opposite sides of the first tray portion, and the accessory
tray
extending in a cantilevered manner away from the front edge of the high chair
tray;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the first tray portion showing the first tray
portion having a middle section and a pair of wings extending outwardly from
opposite sides of the middle section;
Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of the first tray portion of Fig. 3
showing four L-shaped tabs extending from a front surface of each of the pair
of
wings and showing an aperture formed in each of the pair of wings between
associated pairs of the L-shaped tabs;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing a
hook of the first tray portion extending over a perimetral ridge formed in the
high
chair tray;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the second tray portion having
four slots that are conlfigured to receive the tabs extending from a
respective wing of
the first tray portion to couple the second tray portion to the first tray
portion, the
second tray portion having a flexible finger positioned between associated
pairs of the
slots, a catch being appended to the flexible finger, and the catch being
configured for
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receipt in the aperture formed in the respective wing of the first tray
portion to lock
the second tray portion in place relative to the first tray portion;
Fig. 7 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, showing a first
step of coupling the second tray to the first tray portion in which a rear
wall of the
second tray portion abuts the front surface of the associated wing and in
which the
tabs are received by receiving portions of respective slots;
Fig. 8 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 7 showing a second step of
coupling the second tray portion to the first tray portion in which the second
tray
portion is slid along the wing of the first tray portion so that the tabs are
received by
retaining portions of respective slots;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken along line 9-9 of Figs. 7 and 13,
showing two of the tabs of the first tray portion positioned in receiving
portions of
associated slots of the second tray portion;
Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken along line 10-10 of Figs. 7 and 13,
showing the front surface of the wing engaging the catch to deflect the
flexible finger;
Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 8, showing
two of the tabs of the first tray portion positioned in retaining portions of
associated
slots of the second tray portion;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 8, showing
the flexible finger in a locking position abutting the front surface of the
associated
wing and showing the catch extending from the flexible finger into the
aperture
formed in the associated wing when the flexible finger is in the locking
position;
Fig. 13 is a sectional view, taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 7, showing
the first step of coupling the second tray portion to the first tray portion;
and
Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 12, showing the flexible
finger of the second tray portion being moved to a releasing position to
withdraw the
catch from the aperture to permit decoupling of the second tray portion from
the first
tray portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An accessory tray 10 includes a first tray portion or piece 12
configured to couple to a front edge or perimeter 14 of a tray 18 of a high
chair 20 as
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shown in Fig. 1. Illustratively, first tray portion 12 includes a pair of top
hooks 15,
shown in Figs. 2 and 5, that engage a top ridge 16 of tray 18 and a bottom
hook 17,
shown in Figs. 4 and 5, that engages a bottom of a front portion or wall 19 of
tray 18
to couple tray 10 to front edge 14. As used herein, directional indications
such as
"front," "rear," "left," and "right" are from the perspective of a caregiver
standing in
front of high chair 20, looking in a direction 50, as shown in Fig. 2.
The manner in which portion 12 couples to tray 18 is described in
more detail in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/549,759 which was filed
April
14, 2000 and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. However, other
manners for coupling first tray portion 12 to front edge 14 are within the
scope of this
disclosure.
Illustrative accessory tray 10 includes a second tray portion or piece 22
and a third tray portion or piece 24 that couple to first tray portion 12 as
shown in
Figs. 1 and 2. In other embodiments, tray 10 has a first tray portion 12 and
only a
second tray portion 22. It will be appreciated that, according to this
disclosure, tray
10 may have a first tray portion 12 and any number of additional tray portions
or
modules that either couple together or couple to first tray portion 12 to form
a single
tray assembly that mounts as a unit to high chair tray 18. In the illustrated
embodiment, second tray portion 22 and third tray portion 24 are configured to
couple
with first tray portion 12 such that tray portions 22, 24 extend in a
cantilevered
manner away from opposite sides of first tray portion 12. The coupling of tray
portions 22, 24 to first tray portion 12 is shown in detail in Figs. 6-14, and
is
described in more detail below.
First tray portion 12 is formed to include a towel holder 26 and an
item-storage platform 28, as shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, and 5. Item-storage
platform 28
has a concave top surface 30 formed with utensil-holding indentations 32, 34.
As
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and S, indentations 32, 34 are tapered such that inner
ends 36,
38 of indentations 32, 34, shown in Fig. 3, have a greater depth than outer
ends 40,
42, also shown in Fig. 3. Top surface 30 has a lowermost portion 44, shown in
Figs. 3
and 4, that is positioned to lie between indentations 32, 34. Such a
configuration
facilitates placement and retrieval of utensils, such as spoons and forks,
from
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indentations 32, 34 by supporting outwardly facing utensil handles at a higher
level
than the inwardly facing fork or spoon ends.
Tray portion 12 includes a pair of arms 46, 48 that extend forwardly
from platform 28 and that support towel holder 26 in spaced-apart relation
with
platform 28 as shown in Figs. 1-3. Top surfaces of arms 46, 48 blend with top
surface
30 of platform 28 and slope downwardly from surface 30 toward towel holder 26,
as
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5. Thus, towel holder 26 couples to distal ends of
arms 46,
48 and extends laterally between arms 46, 48 at the front of first tray
portion 12.
First tray portion 10 additionally includes a left wing 52 and a right
wing 54, as shown in Figs. 1-4. Wings (or first and second sides) 52, 54
extend
horizontally outwardly from platform 28 and have substantially rectangular,
vertical
front surfaces 56, 58, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In addition, wings 52, 54
have
generally triangular upper surfaces such that wings 52, 54 are greater in
thickness at
their respective junctions with platform 28 and such that wings 52, 54 taper
from the
junction with platform 28 to respective tips 60, 62.
Illustrative second tray portion 22 is formed to include a first
cylindrical cavity 64 and a second cylindrical cavity 66, as shown in Figs. 1,
2, and
6-8. A substantially triangular third cavity 68 is also illustratively formed
in second
tray portion 22. In the illustrated embodiment, first cylindrical cavity 64 is
formed
with a larger diameter than second cylindrical cavity 66, thereby permitting
larger
jars, bowls, bottles, or cups to be placed in first cylindrical cavity 64 than
can be
placed in second cylindrical cavity 66. However, it is within the scope of
this
disclosure to have any number, configuration, or arrangement of cavities
formed in
second tray portion 22.
Third tray portion 24 is illustratively formed to include a first
cylindrical cavity 70 and a second cylindrical cavity 72, each being of a
different
diameter, as shown in Figs. 1-2. Third tray portion 24 further includes a
utensil-
holding indentation 74. It is within the scope of the disclosure, however, to
have any
number, configuration, or arrangement of cavities and/or indentations formed
in third
tray portion 24.
Second tray portion 22 and third tray portion 24 are illustratively
coupled to and supported by first tray portion 12 on opposite, left and right
sides of
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tray portion 12. When mounted on the front perimeter 14 of tray 18, portions
12, 22,
24 extend forwardly from tray 18 in a cantilevered manner. In addition, the
rear walls
of portions 12, 22, 24 match the contour of perimeter 14 and cover a majority
of front
wall 19 of tray 18 when coupled to tray 18. Portions 22, 24 each include a
wing 25
that extends horizontally rearwardly and that covers a front corner region 27
of tray
18. Wings 25 of portions 22, 24 prevent tray 10 from sliding laterally
relative to tray
18 when coupled to tray 18. By having portions 12, 22, 24 of tray 10 extending
forwardly from tray 18, an infant seated on high chair 20 is blocked by tray
18 from
reaching the items placed on tray 10.
First tray portion 12 includes two sets of four tabs 80, 82, 84, 86, each
set extending from front surfaces 56, 58 of respective wings 52, 54 as shown,
for
example, in Fig. 6. Second and third tray portions 22, 24 include vertical,
rear walls
76, 78, respectively, that are each formed to include a set of four slots 88,
90, 92, 94
that receive tabs 80, 82, 84, 86, respectively. Receipt of tabs 80, 82, 84, 86
in slots
88, 90, 92, 94 of rear wall 76 couples portion 22 to portion 12 of tray 10,
and portion
24 is coupled to portion 12 of tray 10 in a similar fashion. Tabs 80, 82, 84,
86,
therefore, permit second and third tray portions 22, 24 to be coupled to and
decoupled
from first tray portion 12. It is within the scope of the disclosure for slots
88, 90, 82,
94 to be formed in wings 52, 54 instead of rear walls 76, 78 and for tabs 80,
82, 84, 86
to be appended to rear walls 76, 78 instead of wings 52, 54.
The description below of the manner in which second tray portion 22
couples to and decouples from first tray portion 12, with reference to Figs. 6-
14,
applies as well to the manner in which third tray portion 24 couples to and
decouples
from first tray portion 12, unless specifically noted otherwise. Tabs 80, 82,
84, 86 are
each L-shaped and include cantilevered web portions 81, 83, 85, 87,
respectively, that
extend substantially perpendicularly from front surface 56. Tabs 80, 82
include rails
104, 106 that extend upwardly from the distal tip of web portions 81, 83,
respectively,
in spaced-apart relation with wall 56 as illustrated in Figs. 6, 9, and 11.
Tabs 84, 86
include rails 108, 110 that extend downwardly from the distal tip of web
portions 85,
87, respectively, in spaced apart relation with wall 56. Rail 108 is
positioned to lie
vertically beneath rail 104 and rail 110 is positioned to lie vertically
beneath rail 106.
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In addition, rail 104 is spaced apart horizontally from rail 106 and rail 108
is spaced
apart horizontally from rail 110.
Slots 88, 90, 92, 94 formed in rear wall 76 of second tray portion 22
include enlarged receiving portions 96, 98, 100, 102 that are sized and
configured to
permit insertion therethrough of rails 104, 106, 108, 110, respectively, and
retaining
portions 112, 114, 116, 118 that are sized and configured to receive web
portions 81,
83, 85, 87, respectively. Retaining portions 112, 114, 116, 118 are
dimensionally
smaller than receiving portions 96, 98, 100, 102, and do not permit insertion
or
passage therethrough of rails 104, 106, 108, 110. Slots 88, 90, 92, 94 are
configured
to substantially resemble keyholes.
Tray portion 22 couples to tray portion 10 in two steps. In the first
step, rails 104, 106, 108, 110 are inserted through receiving portions 96, 98,
100, 102
of slots 88, 90, 92, 94, respectively, so that tray portion 22 is in an
intermediate
position having front surface 56 abutting rear wall 76 and having a side wall
122 of
second tray portion 22 spaced apart from arm 46 as shown in Figs. 7. In the
second
step, tray portion 22 is slid in the direction indicated by arrow 120, shown
in Fig. 7,
along wing 52 so that web portions 81, 83, 85, 87 are received in retaining
portions
112, 114, 116, 118, respectively, and so that tray portion 22 is in a coupled
position
having side wall 122 abutting arm 46 as shown in Figs. 8.
In the coupled position shown in Fig. 8, second tray portion 22 is
prevented from being pulled perpendicularly from front surface 56 of first
tray portion
12 by the interaction of L-shaped tabs 80, 82, 84, 86 with rear wall 76. As
shown in
Figs. 6 and 13, rear wall 76 of tray portion 22 includes four lips 124, 126,
128, 130
that are adjacent respective retaining portions 112, 114, 116, 118 of the
associated
slots 88, 90, 92, 94. When tray portion 22 is in the coupled position, lips
124, 126,
128, 130 are positioned to lie between front surface 56 of wing 52 and
respective rails
104, 106, 108, 110. The space defined between rails 104, 106, 108, 110 and
front
surface 56 is sized to receive lips 124, 126, 128, 130 with only a minimal
amount of
clearance, if any, therebetween. In addition, the vertical thickness of web
portions 81,
83, 85, 87 is approximately the same size as the vertical gap of retaining
portions 112,
114, 116, 118 of slots 88, 90, 92, 94, respectively.
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To decouple second tray portion 22 from first tray portion 12, second
tray portion 22 must be moved from the coupled position, shown in Fig. 8, back
to the
intermediate position, shown in Fig. 7, so that rails 104, 106, 108, 110 are
aligned
with respective receiving portions 96, 98, 100, 102 of slots 88, 90, 92, 94.
After tray
portion 22 is moved to the intermediate position, tray portion 22 is then
pulled
perpendicularly way from front surface 56 of wing 52, thereby moving rails
104, 106,
108, 110 into and through receiving portions 96, 98, 100, 102 of slots 88, 90,
92, 94.
The present disclosure further contemplates a lock mechanism to
removably lock second tray portion 22 in the coupled position relative to
first tray
portion 12. Illustratively, the lock mechanism includes a catch 132 that is
formed as
part of tray portion 22 and a detent or aperture 134 that is formed in front
surface 56
of wing 52. It will be appreciated that other locking or securing mechanisms
are
within the scope of this disclosure. As shown in Fig. 6, 12, and 14, tray
portion 22
includes a flexible finger 136 to which catch 132 is mounted. Flexible finger
136
1 S extends vertically and is positioned to lie between slots 88, 92 and slots
94, 96.
Illustrative catch 132 is a cylinder that extends horizontally away from
finger 136.
Finger 136 is appended at its upper end to rear wall 76 and a lower end
137 of forger 136 extends downwardly beyond a bottom edge 139 of wall 76 and
is
engaged by a user's finger to flex finger 136 from a locking position, shown
in Fig.
12, to a releasing position, shown in Fig. 14. A pair of vertical slots 135
are defined
between rear wall 76 and respective sides of finger 136 as shown best in Fig.
13.
When tray portion 22 is in the coupled position and finger 136 is in the
locking
position, finger 136 abuts front surface 56 and catch 132 is received in
aperture 134 to
prevent tray portion 22 from shifting laterally out of the coupled position.
When
finger 136 is flexed to the releasing position, catch 132 is withdrawn from
aperture
134 allowing tray portion 22 to be moved from the coupled position to the
intermediate position.
When second tray portion 22 is in the intermediate position, catch 132
is offset from aperture 134, as shown in Fig. 13, and engages front surface 56
of wing
52 to flex finger 136 away from wing 52. as shown in Fig. 10. When tray
portion 22
is moved relative to tray portion 12 in direction 120 from the intermediate
position to
the coupled position, catch 132 aligns with aperture 134 and finger 136 moves
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automatically from its flexed, releasing position to its unflexed, locking
position as
shown in Fig. 12, so that catch 132 moves into aperture 134. As noted above,
catch
132 can be removed from aperture 134 by pulling and flexing finger 136 as
shown in
Fig. 14. Thus, after removal of catch 132 from aperture 134, second tray
portion 22
can be decoupled from first tray portion 12. Decoupling of second tray portion
22 and
third tray portion 24 from first tray portion 12 permits any of first, second,
and third
tray portions 12, 22, 24 to be placed in a dishwasher for easy cleanup.
First tray portion 12 includes tongues 138, 140 that extend laterally
outwardly from arms 46, 48, respectively as shown in Fig. 6 with regard to arm
46.
When second and third tray portions 22, 24 are coupled to first tray portion
12,
additional support is provided by tongues 138, 140. Furthermore, tongues 138,
140
assist with retaining second and third tray portions 22, 24 in their mounted
position
and thereby preserve the integrity of web portions 81, 83, 85, 87, rails 104,
106, 108,
110, and lips 124, 126, 128, 130 in the event second or third tray portions
22, 24 are
improperly pulled apart from first tray portion 12. As can be seen in Fig. 6,
a notch or
recess 142 is formed in side wall 122 of second tray portion 22. When tray
portion 22
moves from the intermediate position into the coupled position, tongue 138
mates
with notch 142 such that only a minimal amount of clearance, if any, exists
between
the edges of wall 122 that define notch 142 and tongue 138 as shown, for
example, in
Fig. 11. Similarly, side wall 123 of third tray portion 24 is formed to
include a recess
144, as shown in Fig. 1. Recess 144 mates with tongue 140, shown in Fig. 3,
when
tray portion 24 is moved from its intermediate position to its coupled
position.
Second and third tray portions 22, 24 each include an additional tongue
146, shown in Figs. 6-8 with regard to tray portion 22, that extends
horizontally from
respective rear walls 76, 78 in a cantilevered manner adjacent to bottom edges
139 of
walls 76, 78. When tray portions 22, 24 are coupled to tray portion 12,
tongues 146
are positioned to lie beneath the bottom of front wall 19 of high chair tray
18 to
further support tray 10 relative to tray 18.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to
certain preferred embodiments, variations, and modifications exist within the
scope
and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
