Multi-piece accessory tray

An accessory tray includes a first tray portion and a second tray portion adapted to be coupled to and decoupled from the first tray portion. A third tray portion can also be provided for coupling to and decoupling from the first tray portion. The accessory tray is adapted to couple to a high chair tray.

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Description

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/234,542, which was filed Sep. 22, 2000 and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 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.

[0003] 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 environments, 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.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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

[0007] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0008] 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;

[0009] 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;

[0010] 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;

[0011] 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;

[0012] 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;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second tray portion having four slots that are configured 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 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;

[0014] 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;

[0015] 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;

[0016] 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;

[0017] 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;

[0018] 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;

[0019] 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;

[0020] 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

[0021] 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

[0022] 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 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.

[0023] The manner in which portion 12 couples to tray 18 is described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/549,759 which was filed Apr. 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] First tray portion 12 is formed to include a towel holder 26 and an item-storage platform 28, as shown in FIGS. 1, 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 5, 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 indentations 32, 34 by supporting outwardly facing utensil handles at a higher level than the inwardly facing fork or spoon ends.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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. In addition, rail 104 is spaced apart horizontally from rail 106 and rail 108 is spaced apart horizontally from rail 110.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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 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.

[0038] Finger 136 is appended at its upper end to rear wall 76 and a lower end 137 of finger 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.

[0039] 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 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

Claims

1. An accessory tray comprising

a first tray portion adapted to mount on a perimeter of a high chair tray, the first tray portion having a top surface for holding items and a first side and a second side,
a second tray portion adapted to mount on the first side of the first tray portion, the second tray portion having a top surface for holding items, and
a third tray portion adapted to mount on the second side of the first tray portion, the third tray portion having a top surface for holding items.

2. The accessory tray of claim 1, wherein the first tray portion and mounted second and third tray portions are adapted to cover a majority of a vertical front portion of the high chair tray perimeter.

3. The accessory tray of claim 1, wherein the first and second sides of the first tray portion are formed to include one of a tab and a slot.

4. The accessory tray of claim 3, wherein the second and third tray portions are formed to include the other of the tab and the slot.

5. The accessory tray of claim 1, further comprising a support for supporting the second and third tray portions relative to the first tray portion.

6. A multi-piece accessory tray for use with a high chair tray having a perimeter including a front wall that faces away from a high chair seat of a high chair to which the high chair tray is coupled, the accessory tray comprising

a first tray piece adapted to couple to the high chair tray and extend away from a first portion of the front wall of the high chair tray in a cantilevered manner, the first tray piece having a first top surface, a vertical surface extending downwardly from the first top surface, and a set of tabs extending away from the vertical surface, and
a second tray piece that is attachable to and detachable from the first tray piece, the second tray piece having a second top surface and a vertical wall extending downwardly from the second top surface, the vertical wall being formed to include a set of slots, each slot receiving a respective tab of the set of tabs to couple the second tray piece to the first tray piece, the vertical wall abutting the vertical surface when the second tray piece is attached to the first tray piece, and the second tray piece extending from the first tray piece in a cantilevered manner alongside the first tray piece and alongside a second portion of the front wall of the high chair tray when the first tray piece is coupled to the high chair tray.

7. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 6, wherein each tab of the set of tabs includes a web portion extending horizontally from the vertical surface and a rail extending vertically from the web portion, each slot of the set of slots has a receiving portion and a retaining portion, and as the second tray piece is coupled to the first tray piece, the second tray piece is first moved along a path perpendicular to the vertical surface so that the rails move through the receiving portions of the slots and then the second tray piece is moved along a path parallel with the vertical surface so that the web portions are received in the retaining portions of the slots.

8. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 7, wherein the vertical wall includes a front surface and a back surface, the front surface of the vertical wall abuts the vertical surface of the first tray piece when the second tray piece is attached to the first tray piece, and the rails abut the back surface of the vertical wall when the second tray piece is attached to the first tray piece.

9. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 7, wherein the set of tabs includes a first tab, a second tab that is spaced horizontally from the first tab, a third tab that is positioned to lie vertically beneath the first tab, and a fourth tab that is positioned to lie vertically beneath the second tab.

10. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 9, wherein the rails of the first and second tabs extend vertically upwardly from the respective web portions of the first and second tabs and the rails of the third and fourth tabs extend vertically downwardly from the respective web portions of the third and fourth tabs.

11. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 9, wherein the vertical surface of the first tray piece is formed to include a detent that is located centrally between the four tabs, the second tray piece includes a catch that is received in the detent to lock the second tray piece in place relative to the first tray piece, and the catch is movable out of the detent to unlock the second tray piece from the first tray piece to permit detachment of the second tray piece from the first tray piece.

12. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 6, wherein the vertical surface of the first tray piece is formed to include a detent, the second tray piece includes a catch that is received in the detent to lock the second tray piece in place relative to the first tray piece, and the catch is movable out of the detent to unlock the second tray piece from the first tray piece to permit detachment of the second tray piece from the first tray piece.

13. The multi-piece accessory tray of claim 12, wherein the second tray piece includes a flexible finger, the catch is appended to the flexible finger, the flexible finger has a locking position in which the catch extends from the flexible finger into the detent, and the flexible finger has a releasing position in which the flexible finger is flexed away from the vertical surface to withdraw the catch from the detent.

14. An accessory tray comprising

a first tray portion adapted to mount on a perimeter of a high chair tray, the first tray portion having a top surface for holding items and a first side and a second side, and
a second tray portion adapted to mount on the first side of the first tray portion, the second tray portion having a top surface for holding items and a rear wall configured to lie adjacent the first side of the first tray portion when the second tray portion is mounted to the first tray portion,
wherein the first side of the first tray portion is formed to include four outwardly extending tabs, the rear wall of the second tray portion is formed to include four slots, and each slot is configured to mate with one of the four outwardly extending tabs.

15. The accessory tray of claim 14, further comprising a third tray portion adapted to mount on the second side of the first tray portion, wherein the second side of the first tray portion is formed to include four outwardly extending tabs and the third tray portion is formed to include four slots, each configured to mate with one of the four outwardly extending tabs of the second side.

16. The accessory tray of claim 14, wherein each of the four tabs is formed in an L-shape.

17. The accessory tray of claim 14, wherein the rear wall of the second tray portion is formed to include four lips, each lip extending into one of the four slots, each lip retaining the tab when the tab is moved within the slot to a locked position.

18. The accessory tray of claim 14, further comprising a tongue coupled to the first tray portion, the tongue being configured to engage the second tray portion when the second tray portion is mounted on the first tray portion.

19. The accessory tray of claim 18, wherein the first tray portion includes a wall disposed at an angle relative to the first side, the wall has a bottom portion, and the tongue extends outwardly from the bottom portion of the wall.

20. The accessory tray of claim 18, wherein the second tray portion is formed to include a recess configured to receive the tongue when the second tray portion is mounted on the first tray portion.

21. The accessory tray of claim 14, further comprising a catch coupled to the rear wall of the second tray portion and a detent formed in the first side of the first tray portion, the catch and detent cooperating to removably lock the second tray portion when the second tray portion is mounted on the first tray portion.

22. The accessory tray of claim 21, wherein the second tray portion includes a finger, the catch is coupled to the finger, and the finger lies in a plane defined by the rear wall.

23. The accessory tray of claim 22, wherein the finger is formed to move between a locked position, wherein the catch is configured to engage the detent, and an unlocked position, wherein the catch is disengaged from the detent.

24. The accessory tray of claim 22, wherein the finger has a first end, a second end, and two sides, and the first end is appended to the rear wall.

25. The accessory tray of claim 24, wherein the rear wall includes a bottom edge, the second end of the finger extends below the bottom edge, and the second end of the finger is engaged to move the finger to withdraw the catch from the detent.

26. The accessory tray of claim 24, wherein the rear wall and finger are formed such that the two sides of the finger are spaced from the rear wall.

27. The accessory tray of claim 21, wherein the catch and detent are each substantially cylindrically shaped.

28. The accessory tray of claim 21, wherein the detent is a hole.

29. The accessory tray of claim 21, wherein the detent is centrally formed in the first side, substantially between the four tabs.

Patent History
Publication number: 20020036416
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2001
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2002
Inventors: Andrew Mendenhall (Indianapolis, IN), Michael C. Dorsey (Brownsburg, IN), Dennis M. Turner (Mooresville, IN)
Application Number: 09949598
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Table Supported On Both Arms (297/148)
International Classification: A47B039/00; A47B083/02;