GB2140290A - Lap tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray (1) for supporting food and drink while resting securely on the user's lap has downwardly projecting end portions (5) which lie outside the user's thighs to stabilise the tray by means of a sideways reaction between the thighs and the end portions. The upper surface of the tray has depressions (6, 8, 9) defining compartments for food, utensils and vessels. Depressions (8 and 9) protrude beneath the tray to rest on the user's thighs and are shaped such that the tray is held horizontal despite sloping of the user's thighs downwards towards the knees <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lap trays The present invention relates to trays and is particularly concerned with trays from which a person may eat without sitting down at a table.

An ordinary tray is unstable and difficult to use in such circumstances.

The method for supporting food commonly used in aeroplanes is to rest a tray, which has depressions defining compartments, on a foldaway table attached to the back of the seat in front of the user or inserted into sockets in the arm rests of the seat.

To enable invalids to eat in bed, hospitals tend to use complicated arrangements to support trays, for example a cantilever which rests on the floor on wheels and can extend over a bed.

There have recently been introduced trays underneath which is attached a pillow which allows the tray to rest on an uneven surface.

Such trays are expensive and inconvenient to store.

The present invention seeks to provide a tray which can support food and drink while resting securely on the user's lap, is cheap to manufacture and convenient to store.

Examples of its uses include buffets, picnics, barbecues, eating on beaches and eating whilst watching television.

According to the present invention a tray is provided having downwardly directed end portions which, when the tray rests on the user's lap, lie outside his thighs.

The depressions in the tray protrude from its undersurface and are preferably arranged so that at least some of them will rest on the user's thighs and are not all of the same depth so that the tray is level when the top surface of the seated user's thighs slope downwards towards his knees.

The tray is preferably shaped so that several trays may be stacked one on top of another.

A sideways reaction between the end portions and the thighs secures and stabilises the tray. The end portions are somewhat flexible for this purpose. They may be angled to project slightly outwards, both for stacking and so that part of the sideways reaction may be supplied by the weight of the tray and its contents.

The tray will best be made in a single moulding operation.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tray resting on a person's lap; Figure 3 is a section on A from Fig. 2, with the person's thighs omitted.

A tray 1, injection-moulded in one piece from a plastics material, has a horizontal surface 2, having a near edge 3 and a far edge 4, and two end portions 5 which may be thinner that the surface 2 and project downwards at an angle between 10 and 30 outward from vertical.

In the centre of the surface 2 is a first circular depression 6 having inwardly sloping sides 7. At one end of the surface 2, near the far edge 4, is a second circular depression 8, of smaller diameter than the first, also protruding below the underside of the surface 2.

Another depression is a slender trough 9 running parallel to the other end of the surface 2. The bottom of the trough 9 is sloped, having a deeper end towards the far edge to which is approximately equal in depth to the second depression 8.

There are two holes 10 in the surface 2, close to the near edge 3, one on each side of the first depression 6.

Each end portion 5 has a horizontal slot 11 close to its top.

In use the tray 1 rests on the user's thighs 1 2 while he eats; for example he may be at a picnic, buffet, or a beach, watching television or at a barbecue.

The second depression 8 and the trough 9 are aligned to rest on the user's thighs 1 2.

The far edge 4 is furthest from the user; the second depression 8 and the deep end of the trough 9 therefore lift the far edge 4, tilting the tray 1 towards the user, or, if his thighs 1 2 slope downwards towards his knees, hold the tray 1 level.

The tray is secured on account of a sideways reaction between the thighs 1 2 and the end portions 5.

The slots 11 enable the tray 1 to be conveniently carried.

The user can place cutlery in the trough 9, a drinking vessel in the second depression 8, and a plate in the first depression 6. The diameter of the first depression 6 is 7 to 8 inches (20 cms.) a little less than most dinner plates. Therefore the rim of the plate, not the bottom, is in contact with the tray, and the plate does not easily tilt or slide.

A serviette may be tucked in one or both of the holes 1 0.

The inside surface of the end portions may be shaped, e.g. by having ridges or protrusions to improve the grip between the sides of the thighs 1 2 and the end portions 5.

The trays are cheap to manufacture and convenient to store since they may be stacked one on top of another. The bottom edges of the end portions are parallel to the horizontal part of the tray so that they may be rested on the ground for stacking or for the tray to be used as a low table.

1. A lap tray having a carrying portion

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lap trays The present invention relates to trays and is particularly concerned with trays from which a person may eat without sitting down at a table. An ordinary tray is unstable and difficult to use in such circumstances. The method for supporting food commonly used in aeroplanes is to rest a tray, which has depressions defining compartments, on a foldaway table attached to the back of the seat in front of the user or inserted into sockets in the arm rests of the seat. To enable invalids to eat in bed, hospitals tend to use complicated arrangements to support trays, for example a cantilever which rests on the floor on wheels and can extend over a bed. There have recently been introduced trays underneath which is attached a pillow which allows the tray to rest on an uneven surface. Such trays are expensive and inconvenient to store. The present invention seeks to provide a tray which can support food and drink while resting securely on the user's lap, is cheap to manufacture and convenient to store. Examples of its uses include buffets, picnics, barbecues, eating on beaches and eating whilst watching television. According to the present invention a tray is provided having downwardly directed end portions which, when the tray rests on the user's lap, lie outside his thighs. The depressions in the tray protrude from its undersurface and are preferably arranged so that at least some of them will rest on the user's thighs and are not all of the same depth so that the tray is level when the top surface of the seated user's thighs slope downwards towards his knees. The tray is preferably shaped so that several trays may be stacked one on top of another. A sideways reaction between the end portions and the thighs secures and stabilises the tray. The end portions are somewhat flexible for this purpose. They may be angled to project slightly outwards, both for stacking and so that part of the sideways reaction may be supplied by the weight of the tray and its contents. The tray will best be made in a single moulding operation. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tray resting on a person's lap; Figure 3 is a section on A from Fig. 2, with the person's thighs omitted. A tray 1, injection-moulded in one piece from a plastics material, has a horizontal surface 2, having a near edge 3 and a far edge 4, and two end portions 5 which may be thinner that the surface 2 and project downwards at an angle between 10 and 30 outward from vertical. In the centre of the surface 2 is a first circular depression 6 having inwardly sloping sides 7. At one end of the surface 2, near the far edge 4, is a second circular depression 8, of smaller diameter than the first, also protruding below the underside of the surface 2. Another depression is a slender trough 9 running parallel to the other end of the surface 2. The bottom of the trough 9 is sloped, having a deeper end towards the far edge to which is approximately equal in depth to the second depression 8. There are two holes 10 in the surface 2, close to the near edge 3, one on each side of the first depression 6. Each end portion 5 has a horizontal slot 11 close to its top. In use the tray 1 rests on the user's thighs 1 2 while he eats; for example he may be at a picnic, buffet, or a beach, watching television or at a barbecue. The second depression 8 and the trough 9 are aligned to rest on the user's thighs 1 2. The far edge 4 is furthest from the user; the second depression 8 and the deep end of the trough 9 therefore lift the far edge 4, tilting the tray 1 towards the user, or, if his thighs 1 2 slope downwards towards his knees, hold the tray 1 level. The tray is secured on account of a sideways reaction between the thighs 1 2 and the end portions 5. The slots 11 enable the tray 1 to be conveniently carried. The user can place cutlery in the trough 9, a drinking vessel in the second depression 8, and a plate in the first depression 6. The diameter of the first depression 6 is 7 to 8 inches (20 cms.) a little less than most dinner plates. Therefore the rim of the plate, not the bottom, is in contact with the tray, and the plate does not easily tilt or slide. A serviette may be tucked in one or both of the holes 1 0. The inside surface of the end portions may be shaped, e.g. by having ridges or protrusions to improve the grip between the sides of the thighs 1 2 and the end portions 5. The trays are cheap to manufacture and convenient to store since they may be stacked one on top of another. The bottom edges of the end portions are parallel to the horizontal part of the tray so that they may be rested on the ground for stacking or for the tray to be used as a low table. CLAIMS

1. A lap tray having a carrying portion and downwardly directed end portions which, when the tray rests on the user's lap, lie outside his thighs.

2. A lap tray according to claim 1 having depressions in the upper surface of the carrying portion defining compartments for food, vessels and/or utensils.

3. A lap tray according to claim 1 wherein there are protrusions from the undersurface of the carrying portion of the tray so arranged that at least some of them will rest on the user's thighs and will tilt the tray in relation to the upper surface of the thighs.

4. A lap tray according to claim 3 wherein the protrusions from the underside of the carrying portions are depressions in its upper surface defining compartments for food, vessels and/or utensils.

5. A lap tray according to any one of the preceding claims so shaped that several such trays can be stacked one on top of another.

6. A lap tray according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portions can be resiliently flexed apart.

7. A lap tray according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the thickness of at least part of the end portions is less than the thickness of the carrying portion of the tray.

8. A lap tray according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portions are provided with slots.

9. A lap tray according to any one of the preceding claims which is an integral onepiece moulding of a plastics material.

10. A lap tray substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.