SEAT WITH RETRACTABLE TRAY
A seat cushion having a pull-out tray is disclosed. The seat cushion is configured to flex so as to conform to the contour of a support surface, such as a stadium seat. The tray is configured to hold food, beverages and other articles.
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to seats, and more specifically, to a seat having an integrated tray configured to selectably extend from the front of the seat.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Seats in certain environments are available such that a person will sit in a seat while watching an event, such as a movie, a television program, a play, and a sporting event, such as a soccer, football, baseball, hockey or tennis match. These seats may be permanent or have some degree of portability. Seats in such environments include at least stadium seating, stadium seating, theatre seating, portable and permanent seating at ball fields, vehicle seats, and various living room type furniture, such as couches, loveseats and arm chairs.
Users of theses seats are typically without the convenience of a nearby table for use as a support for various items. In each of these environments a user of a seat may enjoy the convenience of having a nearby surface to place certain items, such as food, drink, papers, a pen, a pencil, reading material, and various other items. The desire for such convenience may be significant, as a person may be potentially sitting for an extended period of time, for example while watching a sporting event.
While some portable seats address this need, these seats sacrifice comfort. This occurs because the structure of these seats is rigid. Accordingly, when the portable seat is placed on a permanent seat having a curvature designed to enhance comfort, the rigid portable seat only presents a substantially planar sitting surface.
A seat providing a convenient surface for temporary storage of items, which is flexible so as to conform to a permanent seat having comfort topology is needed.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTSThe systems, methods, and devices of the invention each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments” one will understand how the features of this invention provide advantages over other seat devices.
One embodiment is an integrated seat and tray device, in which the device has a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side. The device further includes a track assembly extending toward the back from the front, and a tray mounted in the track assembly and adapted to slide from a retracted position into an extended position in which the tray extends from the front. The seat is adapted to deform while in use, and the track assembly is adapted to flex to accommodate the deformation of the seat.
Another embodiment is a tray assembly adapted for attachment to a preexisting seat or chair. The tray assembly includes a track assembly including a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a left side, and a right side, a tray mounted in the track assembly and adapted to slide from a retracted position, out of the front of the track assembly into an extended position. The tray assembly also includes an attachment structure adapted for temporarily mounting the tray assembly to the seat.
Embodiments of seats are presented herein which provide the benefits of having a tray to store certain items. Such convenience is particularly desirable when a person is expecting to be seated for extended periods of time, such as while watching an event, such as a movie, a television program, a play, and a sporting event. Some embodiments are also flexible, so as to provide a more comfortable sitting area when the seat is placed on a surface having a shape designed for increased comfort. Some embodiments are portable, and some embodiments are covered by a soft cushion. Some embodiments of the tray comprise a drink holder.
In some embodiments, the track assembly 400 is configured to flex in multiple directions. To accommodate such flexing the bottom may comprise multiple bottom side pieces 430 on each side of the bottom center piece 420 and additionally or alternatively the bottom center piece 420 may similarly comprise multiple segments. The specific configuration of the bottom side pieces 430 and the bottom center piece 420 is not limited as the specific segmentation may be designed to meet conformity needs according to specific contours of anticipated support surfaces.
In some embodiments the seat comprises a cushion. So as to be substantially soft, the cushion can comprise a layer of flexible polymer foam. In some embodiments, the cushion partially surrounds the track assembly. For example, the cushion can be attached to the track assembly on the top and on two or three other sides. In some embodiments, the cushion substantially surrounds the track assembly with an opening allowing movement of the tray. In some embodiments the cushion is at least on the top and below the bottom of the track assembly.
In some embodiments, the seat comprises a cover. The cover can be removable so as to be washed or changed. For example, during football season the user may want to have a cover with a football logo, and during baseball season the user may replace the football cover with a cover with a baseball logo. Some embodiments have a cushion and a cover, and the cover may be connected to the cushion.
In some embodiments, the seat comprises a back support portion, such that, while seated, a user can lean against the back support portion and be supported. In some embodiments, the back support portion is attached to the seat with one or more hinging mechanisms such that the seat can be stored with the back support portion substantially adjacent to the sitting surface and when in use the back support portion can be adjusted to a use position when desired. In some embodiments, the back support portion can have a plurality of use positions, for example, at various angles with respect to the rest of the seat. In some embodiments, the back support portion is covered or partially covered with a cushion.
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While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. As will be recognized, the present invention may be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately from others.
Claims
1. An integrated seat and tray device, in which the device has a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side, the device further comprising:
- a track assembly extending toward the back from the front; and
- a tray mounted in the track assembly and adapted to slide from a retracted position into an extended position in which the tray extends from the front,
- wherein the seat is adapted to deform while in use, and the track assembly is adapted to flex to accommodate the deformation of the seat.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a drink holder in or on the tray, the drink holder positioned for use when the tray is extended;
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the tray further comprises a handle, wherein the handle extends from the back of the seat when the tray is in the retracted position.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises a cushion.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cushion at least partially surrounds the track assembly such that the cushion is located on at least two sides of the track assembly.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises a back support portion.
7. The device of claim 4, further comprising a removable cover connected to the cushion.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises a flexible polymer foam and the track assembly and tray comprise a resilient synthetic polymer.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the track assembly comprises at least one top element and at least one bottom element, and is adapted to sandwich the tray between said top element and said bottom element.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the track assembly comprises at least three bottom elements.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the track assembly comprises reinforcing structures running primarily from the front to the back such that the track assembly is adapted to flex such that the front and the back of the track assembly each become concave.
12. A tray assembly adapted for attachment to a preexisting seat or chair, the tray assembly comprising:
- a track assembly comprising a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a left side, and a right side;
- a tray mounted in the track assembly and adapted to slide from a retracted position, out of the front of the track assembly into an extended position; and
- an attachment structure adapted for temporarily mounting the tray assembly to the seat.
13. The tray assembly of claim 12, wherein the track assembly is adapted to flex such that the front and the back of the track assembly each become concave.
14. The tray assembly of claim 13, wherein the tray is adapted to slide in and out of the track assembly while the track assembly is in either a flexed or unflexed position.
15. The tray assembly of claim 12, further comprising a drink holder in or on the tray, the drink holder positioned for use when the tray is extended;
16. The tray assembly of claim 12, wherein the tray further comprises a handle, wherein the handle extends from the back of the track assembly when the tray is in the retracted position.
17. The tray assembly of claim 12, wherein the track assembly further comprises a cushion.
18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a removable cover connected to the cushion.
19. The device of claim 12, wherein the track assembly comprises at least one top element and at least one bottom element, and is adapted to sandwich the tray between said top element and said bottom element.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein the track assembly comprises three bottom elements.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 12, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 4, 2008
Inventor: Richard Cinque (Carlsbad, CA)
Application Number: 11/609,728
International Classification: A47B 83/02 (20060101); A47B 88/00 (20060101);