Horizontally supported planar surfaces – With structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-10-30
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
With structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308641
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Inveniton
The present invention generally relates to wall-mounted support structures, including tables and trays. More particularly, this invention relates to a wall-mounted tray that is configured to require minimal room and wall space when stowed, yet provides ample surface area for supporting reading materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various wall-mounted tables, trays and other support structures have been proposed in the past. Most wall-mounted tables are designed to be stowed by folding the table either up or down to be generally parallel to their mounting walls, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,803,930 to Crocoli, 5,081,724 to Takahashi et al., 5,487,342 to Mack, 5,513,574 to Collins, 5,713,404 to Ladewig, and 5,775,655 to Schmeets. Prior art tables of the type exemplified by Crocoli and Collins have employed folding legs that support the extreme edge of the table from the floor. Other stowable tables of the prior art have employed brackets or cylinders to support the table from its mounting wall, as shown in Takahashi et al., Mack, Ladewig and Schmeets. To increase the distance that the table can project from its mounting wall, tables have been mounted to sliding rails as done in Crocoli. To maximize surface area, tables have been configured with folding leaves as done in Crocoli, Mack and Collins.
With each of these types of tables, in order to minimize the wall space occupied by the table when stowed, special accommodations must be provided in order to stow the legs or support brackets. As a result, wall-mounted stowable tables can be difficult to recess into the walls of many building structures, but will project an undesirable distance into a room if not recessed. These shortcomings are more acute if the table is desired to be mounted in a very small room, as would be the case of desired as a reading table in a bathroom, and particularly bathrooms of the size often found in hotels, motels, airplanes and buses. Another shortcoming of prior art wall-mounted tables is that the steps required to deploy and stow them can at times be relatively cumbersome or complicated. Legs that support the outer edge of the table from the floor (e.g., Crocoli and Collins) are often not practical, while support brackets mounted to the wall can significantly limit leg room beneath the table if they support the table from beneath (e.g., Mack, Ladewig and Schmeets), and significantly limit the support surface area readily available to the user if they support the table from above (e.g., Takahashi et al.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a wall-mounted stowable reading tray suitable for placement in a bathroom or any other confined space. The tray is configured to require minimal room and wall space when stowed, yet provides ample surface area for supporting reading materials when deployed. The tray of this invention is legless, and therefore may be cantilevered from its mounting wall when deployed. The tray is stowed within a mounting frame attached to the mounting wall, and recessed into the wall if so desired. The tray preferably employs means for supporting the cantilevered tray, and which can be readily stowed with the tray within the mounting frame. In one embodiment, a pair of cords or folding brackets supports the tray from above, while in a second embodiment the tray is equipped with a single bracket that supports the tray from beneath, so as not to interfere with the use of the tray. The bracket of the second embodiment is configured to fold up flush and tight with the tray in the mounting frame, and therefore does not significantly add to the room and wall space occupied by the tray either when deployed or stowed. The tray further includes an extension that can be stowed within the tray when not needed. Consequently, the extension does not occupy any additional room or wall space when the tray is stowed.
Other features of the tray include a latch for locking the tray in its stowed position within the mounting frame. The latch is configured to be substantially flush with the mounting frame, and therefore does not contribute to the space occupied by the tray when either stowed or deployed. Another notable feature of this invention is the ample surface area of the tray that is uncluttered by the mechanical components of the tray. For use in commercial settings such as hotels, motels, airplanes and buses, the tray and its mounting frame are preferably equipped with compartments in which advertising can be contained. For example, advertising can be inserted to be viewed on both surfaces of the tray and a portion surface of the mounting frame. The tray is preferably equipped with transparent panels on both of its surface, forming slots in which advertising can be easily installed and removed.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1809866 (1931-06-01), Riesche
patent: 3226776 (1966-01-01), Van Wormer
patent: 4263854 (1981-04-01), Moore et al.
patent: 4803930 (1989-02-01), Corcoli
patent: 5081724 (1992-01-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 5487342 (1996-01-01), Mack
patent: 5513574 (1996-05-01), Collins
patent: 5588697 (1996-12-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 5713404 (1998-02-01), Ladewig
patent: 5775655 (1998-07-01), Schmeets
patent: 6161486 (2000-12-01), Boots
patent: 411660-A (1993-01-01), None
patent: 1264691 (1961-05-01), None
Chen José V.
Hartman Domenica N. S.
Hartman Gary M.
LandOfFree
Stowable reading tray does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stowable reading tray, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stowable reading tray will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2568910