TABLET ASSEMBLY
A tablet assembly for use with a seating structure, including a shaft attached to the seating structure, the shaft further attached to a tablet plate, and wherein the tablet plate includes an attaching tube arranged for swivel mount to a corresponding end of the shaft.
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This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 63/152,396, filed 23 Feb. 2021.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention pertains to a tablet assembly, including a tablet plate and mechanism for movably attaching the tablet plate to a stationary object, such as a chair. Known devices may not have an optimal range of motion, and may either swing too far thereby rendering them awkward to use, or swing too little making ingress and egress of the cooperating chair difficult. The present invention seeks to ameliorate these shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA tablet assembly for attachment to a chair or other seating is taught. The tablet assembly includes a tablet plate, the tablet plate attached to the seating by way of a shaft which may be either externally or internally mounted to the seating. The tablet plate includes a bottom surface having a tube. The tube is arranged for swivel mount to a corresponding proximal end of the shaft.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
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A tablet assembly 10 accordingly to the present invention includes a tablet plate 12 having a top surface 18 and a bottom surface 20, the bottom surface 20 having an upstanding tablet tube 24, the upstanding tube 24 including a shank portion 46, the shank portion 46 having a shank distal end 43, a shank proximal end 50, a shank circumference CC, and a shank length LL, and wherein the tablet tube 24 is attached to the bottom surface 20 of the tablet plate 12 at the shank proximal end 50, and wherein the shank distal end 43 includes a cutout portion 30, the cutout portion 30 having a having a length LL′ and a circumference CC. The tablet assembly 10 further includes a supporting shaft 14, the supporting shaft 14 having a shaft distal end 26 and a shaft proximal end 23 terminating in an attachment end 52, wherein the attachment end 52 is adapted for attachment to the upstanding tube 24. As shown, the cutout portion 30 has an arc length AL extending around a predetermined portion of the shank circumference CC, preferably the arc length AL is approximately 105 degrees of the shark circumference CC.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A tablet assembly including:
- a tablet plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having an upstanding tablet tube, said upstanding tube including a shank portion, said shank portion having a shank distal end, a shank proximal end, a shank circumference, and a shank length, and wherein said tablet tube is attached to said bottom surface of said tablet plate at said shank proximal end, and wherein said shank distal end includes a cutout portion, said cutout portion having a having a length and a circumference; and
- a supporting shaft, said supporting shaft having a shaft distal end and a shaft proximal end terminating in an attachment end, wherein said attachment end is adapted for attachment to said upstanding tube.
2. The tablet assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutout portion has an arc length extending around a predetermined portion of said shank circumference.
3. The tablet assembly of claim 2 wherein said arc length is 105 degrees of said shank circumference.
4. The tablet assembly of claim 1 wherein said shaft proximal end further includes a portion of reduced thickness arranged for engagement within said tablet tube.
5. The tablet assembly of claim 4 wherein said area of reduced thickness includes at least one circumferential groove and at least one O-ring, said at least one O-ring being seated in said circumferential groove.
6. The tablet assembly of claim 4 wherein said shaft proximal end includes an integrated stop limiting key, said stop limiting key arranged to engage said cutout portion.
7. The tablet assembly of claim 6 wherein said top surface includes a cover, said cover being comprised of solid wood, solid surface, or a laminate.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 21, 2022
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2022
Applicant: INTEGRA, INC. (Walworth, WI)
Inventors: Monroe Putnam (Delavan, WI), Robert Edward Jankowski (Elkhorn, WI)
Application Number: 17/676,330