GB2157948A - Tray device - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray device (10) comprises a tray (11) and two substantially coplanar telescopic elongate runners (16, 17) for supporting the tray (11), above a seated person's legs. Straps (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) are provided for securing the device (10) to a dining chair e.g. for use by a child, rear straps (22, 23) being connected together behind the back of the chair, front straps (24, 25) being connected together beneath the chair seat, central straps (26, 27) also being connected together beneath the seat, and an additional strap (28) extending rearwardly over the seat and being connected to one of the central straps (26, 27). Alternatively, such straps may be omitted, and/or the device (10) may lie over a person's legs with the runners (16,17) resting on the ground, on the surface of a bed, or on another type of chair seat. The tray (11) may be mounted for lockable pivotal rotation about the crossbar (20). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tray device This invention relates to a tray device of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being ofthe kind specified) comprising a tray and means for supporting the tray, in use, above the legs of a seated person.

Difficulties are often experienced in feeding the elderly, the infirm, the bed-ridden, young children or other people who cannot easily eat at a conventional dining table.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tray device of the kind specified wherein the support means comprises two substantially coplanar elongate runners connected to, and equally vertically spaced from, respective opposite sides of the tray.

Preferably the runners are at least substantially longitudinally co-extensive with the tray.

In this manner,the tray device may, for example, be capable of being free-standing, with the runners resting on a surface or article offurniture on which a person is sitting, and with the tray supported above the person's legs. Thus,thetray device may be positioned on a bed so that the runners lie to either side of a person in the bed, with the tray above the person's legs. Alternatively, the device could be used by a person seated in an armchair by supporting the runners on respective arms ofthe chair, with the tray above the person's legs.

The runners may be substantially parallel to the tray, so that the tray may be substantially horizontal when the runners are substantially horizo tal. The tray may, however, be of adjustable inclination relative to the runners, in orderto permitthetrayto be set horizontally even when the runners are resting on chair arms which are not horizontal.

The runners preferably extend longitudinally rear wardlybeyonda rearedge ofthetray, and are preferably lockablytelescopic, so that where, for example, the runners engage a chair back in use,they may be extended or retracted if necessary to permit a separation suited to a particular person to be obtained between a rear edge of the tray and the chair back.

Said locking may be achieved by bolts carried by fixed portions of the runners, the bolts being rotatable so as to enter appropriate apertures in movable portions of the runners in order to lockthe runners.

Preferably,the runners are lower portions of respective hoop-like structures on said opposite sides of the tray, in which case they may be telescopic, by virtue of having slidably movable C-shaped rear portions. A crossbar is preferably provided between upper por tionsofthe hoop-like structures, for example substantially adjacent to a front edge of the tray.

The runners are conveniently parallel to each other.

Conventionally, trays for use in feeding children, in particularyoung children or babies, have been provided as parts of "high-chairs". Such high-chairs are generally expensive, cumbersome and of little use for any other purposes, however. The tray device hereinbefore described may be smaller and more portablethan a "high-chair" and so mayforexample be used outdoors, resting on the g rou nd, for a picnic away from home.

Although the tray device may be used without modification to feed children, it should preferably, at least in a domestic environment, be securableto a seat or other article of furniture re for safety reasons.

Thus, means are preferably provided on the device for securing the device to an article offurniture such as a chair, the securing means advantageously comprising a plurality of straps of plastic material or leather.

Preferably, rear portions of the device have rear straps attached thereto, the rear straps being capable of being linked together, in use, behind the back of a chair, and front portions ofthe device have front straps attached thereto, the front straps being capable of being linked together, in use, under the seat of the chair, in order to secure the device to the chair. Achild maythen be positioned on the chair seat, with its torso between the rear edge ofthetray and the chair back, and with its legs passing beneath the tray.

Preferably, the device further comprises a first central strap extending from underthe tray, for example from the crossbar where present, and a second central strap extending from the rear ofthe device, for example by being slidably attached to one of the rear straps, the first and second central straps being capable of being linked together underthe seat of a chair, with the first central strap passing between the legs of a child and thereby helping to preventthe child from slipping from the seat in a forwardly direction.

In the case of a baby or small child, an additional central strap may be provided which, in use, passes rearwardly over the upper surface of the seatfrom the first central strap to the rear ofthe seat, for example for connection, underthe seat of the chair, to the second central strap or, again, to the first central strap. The additional strap may be arranged to pull rearwardly a portion of the first central strap located between the legs ofthe child, to facilitate retention ofthe child on the seat.

The device may have dimensions which are particularly suited to securing of the device to a dining chair having a trapeziform seat of standard size, with a rear seat edge, and lower chair back portion, of lesser width than thefront ofthe chair byvirtue of having runners with a rear separation greater than the width ofthefront of the chair. The device may then be secured to the dining chair with rear portions of the runners on either side of the lower chair back portion, and with front portions of the runners resting on respective front side portions of the seat ofthe chair.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE lisa perspectiveviewofatraydevice embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 isto a smaller scale than Figure 1 and shows the tray device of Figure 1 when secured to a dining chair, with a child, shown diagrammatically, sitting on the chair; FIGURE 3 is to the same scale as Figure 2 and shows the tray device secured in an alternative mannerto the dining chair, with a smaller child or baby, shown diagrammatically, sitting on the chair; FIGURE 4isto the same scale as Figures 2 and 3 and shows the tray device resting on arms of an armchair, with an adult, shown diagrammatically, sitting in the armchair; and FIGURE 5 is to the same scale as Figures 2 to 4 and shows the tray device resting on a bed, with a bed-ridden person, shown diagrammatically, sitting in the bed.

Referring first to Figure 1 ofthe drawings, a tray device 10 embodying the invention comprises atray 11 and hoop-like support structures 12 and 13 rivetted to respective opposite sides 14 and 15 ofthe tray 11, the structures 12 and 13 having lower portions providing substantially coplanar elongate runners 16 and 17 respectively, the runners being equallyvertically spaced belowthe sides 14 and 15 of the tray 11.

The runners 16 and 17 are substantially parallel to the tray 11 and are substantially parallel to each other.

In use, as will hereinafter be described more fully, the tray 11 is supported on the structures 12 and 13, above the legs of a seated person.

The structures 12 and 13 have fixed C-shaped front portions12aand13awhicharelongitudinallymore than co-extensive with the tray 11, and C-shaped rear portions 12band 13bwhich extend longitudinally rearwardly beyond a rear edge 18 of the tray 11. The portion 1 2b is telescopically slidable relative to the portion 12a, and the portion 13bistelescopically slidable relative to the portion 13a.Each ofthe rear portions 12band 13b may be locked with respectto the corresponding front portion 1 2a or 1 3a by means of bolts 19 carried by the front portions 1 2a and 13a, the bolts 19 being rotatable so as to enter appropriate apertures (not shown) in the corresponding rear portions so as to lock the rear portions against such sliding telescopic movement.

The structures 12 and 13 are rigidlyconnected to each other by a crossbar 20 welded therebetween, the crossbar 20 lying adjacent to a front edge 21 ofthe tray 11.

Mutually linkable rear securing straps 22 and 23 are attached to the rear portions 1 2b and 1 3b respectively, and mutually linkable front securing straps 24 and 25 are attachedto thefront portions 12a and 13a respectively. Afirst central strap 26 extends from the crossbar 20 and through a loop 25a in the strap 25, and has an end portion 26awhich is linkablewith a second central strap 27 having a loop-like connection 27awith the rear strap 22. An additional removable strap 28 is connected buy a ring 28a to the first central strap 26, and is also linkable with the end portion 26aofthe strap 26.

Rubber pads 30 and 31 are provided on rear portions 1 2b and 1 3b respectively. A longitudinally compressible canvas covering 29 is provided on the structure 13, and a similar covering is provided on the structure 12, but said similar covering is omitted from the drawingsfor clarity.

Referring now also to Figure 2, the device 10 has dimensionswhich are particularly suited to securing thereofto a dining chair 40 having a trapeziform seat 41 of a standard size, the chair 40 having a rear seat edge 42 and a lower chair back portion 43 of lesser width than thefront44 ofthe chair40. The rear portions 1 2b and 1 3b have a separation greaterthan the width ofthe lower chair back portion 43, and the front portions 1 2a and 1 3a have a separation less than the width of the front 44 of the chair 40.

The device 10 may be placed on the chair40 with the pads 30 and 31 in abutment with respective opposite sides ofthe lower back portion 43, and with front portions of the runners 16 and 17 resting on respective front side portions 45 and 46 of the seat 41. The rear straps 22 and 23 are then linked together behind the lower chair back portion 43, and the front straps 24 and 25 are linked together underthe seat 41, thereby securing the device 10to the chair40.

A child 50 may be positioned on the seat 41 ,with its torso between the rearedge 18 and the lowerchair back portion 43, and with its legs passing underthe tray 11, in orderthatthe child may consume food (not shown) from the tray 11. The central straps 26 and 27 are linkedtogetherundertheseat4l so that portion ofthe first central strap 26 passes between the legs of the child and thereby helps to preventthe child from slipping from the seat 41 in a forwardly direction.

The telescopic runners 16 and 17 are initially extended or retracted, if necessary, and then locked in position bythe bolts 19, so asto provide a conveniently sized space for the child's torso between the rear edge 18 and the lower chair back portion 43.

Referring nowto Figure 3 of the drawings, if it is desired to feed a smaller child 51,the additonal strap 28, omitted from Figure 2, may additionally be employed. The strap 28 is passed rearwardlyfrom the strap 26, over the seat 41 and over the rear edge 42, and is then linked with the portion 26a ofthefirst central strap 26 generally priorto linking of the second central strap 27 to the portion 26a. The strap 28 is arranged to pull rearwardlythe portion ofthe strap 26 located between the legs ofthe child 51, thereby facilitating retention ofthe smaller child 51 on the seat 41.

Referring nowto Figure4ofthedrawings,the device 10 may be used inthefeeding of an adult60 sitting in an armchair 65 by resting the runners 16 and 17 on respective side portions 66 and 67 of the seat of the chair 65, between the arms ofthe chair 65. Strictly, no securing straps need then be provided. For elderly or infirm adults however, rear straps similarto the straps 22 and 23 hereinbefore described, but of appropriate length to accommodatethe back 68 of the chair 65, may usefully be provided on the device lOin orderto render it securable to the back 68.

Although the vertical spacing between the tray 11 and the runners 16 and 17 is primarily intended to accommodate the legs of a child (as in Figures 2 and 3),the weight ofthe adult 60 compresses a central portion ofthe chair seat sufficiently to provide a satisfactory clearance between the tray 11 and the legs ofthe adult 60. The device 10 may similarly be used in conjunction with a car seat or other chair of the kind where the seat surface is sufficiently concave, at least in use, for side portions ofthe seat to support the runners 16 and 17 so that the tray 11 is adequately spaced above a person's legs.

If it is desired to use the device 10 on an armchair having arms which are separated by a distance less than the separation ofthe runners 16 and 17, the device 10 may be used with the runners 16 and 17 resting on the respective arms ofthe chair.

Althoughtherunners 16and 17 have been described as being substantially parallel to the tray 11, the tray 11 being rivetted directly to the structures 12 and 13, the tray could instead be indirectly connected to the structures 11 and 12, for example by being mounted for lockable pivotal rotation aboutthe crossbar 20, in order to vary the inclination ofthe tray 11 relative to the runners 16 and 17, thereby permitting the tray 11 to be locked in a substantially horizontal condition even when the runners 16 and 17 are resting on, for example, chairseatside portions or chair arms which are not themselves horizontal.

Referring nowto Figure 5 ofthe drawings, the device 10 may alternatively be used in the feeding of a bed-ridden person 70 by being positioned with the runners 16 and 17 resting on the bed surface 71 to either side of the person's legs, with the tray 11 above the person's legs. No securing straps need then be used on the device 10, which isfree-standing on the bed surface 71. Most beds are generally sufficiently easily compressible to ensure that there will be an adequate gap, in use, between the tray 11 and the person's legs. Similarly, a child sitting on a horizontal surface on which the runners 16 and 17 are resting, on either side of the child's legs, with the tray 11 above the child's legs, could eat from the tray 11. Such a surface could, for example, be a lawn used for a picnic away from home.

Itwill be appreciated that a particular advantage of the device 10 over a "high-chair" is that it is smaller, and hence more portable, for examplefor use outside the home, than a "high-chair".

The straps ofthe device 10 hereinbefore described are of plastics material but could alternatively be of, for example, real or imitation leather, if desired.

Securing means other than straps may be used if desired.

The crossbar 20 and the support structures 12 and 13 areformedfrom steel tubing welded together and painted, but could alternatively be of plastics material or could be plastics coated if desired.

Although the crossbar 20 ofthe device 10 has been described as being welded to the support structures 12 and 13, and although the tray 11 ofthe device 10 has been described as being rivetted to the support structures 12 and 13, corresponding support structures of an alternative tray device in accordance with the invention could instead be provided with respective formations, for example of plastics material, which push-fittingly receive respective end portions of a crossbar, and the tray could be screwed or bolted onto the support structures, thereby enabling the alternative tray device to be assembled easily from a kit including such support structures, a tray and a crossbar, using only simple tools (if any).

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specificforms or in termsof a means for performing the disclosed function, ora method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (26)

1. Atray device of the kind specified wherein the support means comprises two substantially coplanar elongate runners connected to, and equally vertically spaced from, respective opposite sides ofthetray.

2. A device according to Claim 1 which is capable of being free-standing on the runners.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the runners are substantially parallel to the tray.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the tray is of adjustable inclination relativeto the runners.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the runners extend longitudinally rearwardly beyond a rear edge ofthe tray and longitudinally forwardlyto below a front edge of the tray.

6. A device according to Claim wherein the runners are lockably telescopic.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein said locking is achieved by bolts carried by fixed portions ofthe runners, the bolts being rotatable so as to enter appropriate apertures in movable portions of the runners in orderto lockthe runners.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the runners are lower portions of respective hoop-like structures on said opposite sides ofthetray.

9. A device according to Claim 8 wherein a crossbar is provided between upper portions of the hoop-like structures.

10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the crossbar is provided substantially adjacent to a front edge of the tray.

11. A device according to any one of Claims 8to 10 where dependent upon Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the runners are telescopic by virtue of having slidably movable C-shaped rear portions.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the runners are parallel to each other.

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided on the device for securing the device to an article of furniture.

14. Adeviceaccordingto Claim 13whereinthe securing means comprises a plurality of straps.

15. Adevice accordingto Claim 14whereinthe straps are of plastic material or leather.

16. A device according to any one of Claims 13 to 15 wherein said securing means is provided for securing the devicetoa chair.

17. A device according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 or according to Claim 16 where dependent upon Claim 14, wherein rear portions of the device have rear straps attached thereto, the rear straps being capable of being linked together, in use, behind the back of a chair, and front portions of the device have front straps attached thereto, the front straps being capable of being linked together, in use, underthe seat of the chair, in order to secure the device to the chain

18. A device according to Claim l7furthercom- prising a first central strap extending from under the tray, and a second central strap extending from the rear ofthe device,the first and second central straps being capable of being linked together.

19. A device according to Claim 18whereeven tuallydependentupon Claim 9 wherein the first central strap extends from the crossbar.

20. A device according to Claim 18 or Claim 19 wherein the second central strap is slidably attached to one ofthe rear straps.

21. A device according to any one of Claims 18to 20 wherein an additional central strap is provided which, in use, passes rearwardlyfrom the first central strap.

22. A device according to Claim 21 wherein the additional central strap passes rearwardlyfor connec- tion to the second central strap or, again, to the first central strap.

23. A device according to Claim 21 or Claim 22 wherein the additional strap is arranged to pull rearwardly a portion of the first central strap.

24. A device according to any one of Claims 13 to 23 having dimensions which are particularly suited to securing of the device to a dining chair having a trapeziform seat of standard size, with a rear seat edge, and lowerchair back portion, of lesserwidth than the front of the chair, byvirtue of having runners with a rear separation greaterthan the width ofthe lowerchair back portion and a front separation less than the width of the front of the chair.

25. Atray device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one or more of Figures 1 to 5 ofthe accompanying drawings.

26. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.