The device and methods disclosed herein relate generally to luggage, and particularly to fold-out trays for luggage.
People who are traveling often find themselves sitting with their luggage while waiting to board flights, or during layovers. Frequently, such time is used to catch up on work or messages, or to read an article or book. Many travelers will balance computers or other objects on their laps or on luggage items while engaging in such activity. This can be uncomfortable, as the surfaces on which objects are balanced may not be flat or stable, or may be at non-ergonomic heights; the effect of bad posture that results from hunching over a laptop on a suitcase or in one's lap can add significantly to the discomfort of travel.
Therefore, there remains a need for a portable work surface that can be incorporated in a luggage item.
In one aspect, fold-out tray incorporated in an item of luggage includes a support attached to an item of luggage, the support having a proximal end and a distal end. The fold-out tray includes a main panel, the main panel having a distal end and a proximal end. The fold-out tray includes a first connector coupling the proximal end of the main panel to the support, the first connector permitting the main panel to be rotated between a first position against the support and a second position in which the main panel is substantially horizontal. The fold-out tray includes a brace having (i) a proximal end contacting the support at a point below the proximal end of the main panel when the main panel is in the second position and (ii) a distal end contacting the main panel between the proximal end of the main panel and the distal end of the main panel when the main panel is in the second position.
In a related embodiment, the support is slidably engaged to an item of luggage. In another embodiment, the support further includes an extension handle connected to an item of luggage. In an additional embodiment, the support further includes a niche into which the main panel inserts when the main panel is in the first position. In another embodiment, the main panel also includes an extension that contacts the support when the main panel is in the second position, preventing the rotation of the main panel past the first position. In a further embodiment, the support also includes a downward-facing surface that contacts the extension when the main panel is in the second position.
In an additional embodiment, the connector is slidably engaged to the support. In another embodiment, the connector is affixed to the support. In a further embodiment, the distal end of the brace is slidably engaged to the main panel. In yet another embodiment, the proximal end of the brace is pivotally attached to the connector. In still another embodiment, the proximal end of the brace is pivotally attached to the support. In a further embodiment still, the main panel also includes a stopper that prevents the distal end of the brace from sliding toward the distal end of the main panel when the main panel is in the second position. In an additional embodiment, the distal end of the brace is pivotally connected to the main panel. In one embodiment, the proximal end of the brace is slidably engaged to the connector. In another embodiment, the proximal end of the brace is slidably engaged to the support.
An additional embodiment of the tray also includes at least one leaf pivotally coupled to the main panel, the at least one leaf free to rotate between a folded position in which the at least one leaf is resting on the main panel and a deployed position in which the at least one leaf is substantially adjacent and parallel to the main panel. In a related embodiment, the main panel also includes at least one lip that extends beneath the at least one leaf when the at least one leaf is in the deployed position, preventing the at least one leaf from further rotation away from the folded position. An additional embodiment includes a latch that secures the at least one leaf to the main panel when the at least one leaf is in the folded position.
Other aspects, embodiments and features of the disclosed device will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The accompanying figures are for schematic purposes and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation at its initial drawing depiction. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of each embodiment of the device and method is shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the device.
The preceding summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosed device and method, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
Embodiments of the disclosed fold-out tray provide a compact and stable surface on which to place laptops or similar items. Travelers can deploy the tray to help them do work or read books or periodicals, and then stow the tray away when they have to move.
Viewing
The support 101 may include at least one mounting rod (not shown) bearing the connector; the at least one mounting rod may have any cross-sectional form, including any curved or polygonal form, and any combination of curved or polygonal forms. For instance, the at least one mounting rod may have a substantially circular cross-sectional form, or a substantially rectangular cross-sectional form. The at least one mounting rod may be a handle rod where the support is an extension handle as described below. The support 101 may include at least one mounting panel, as illustrated in
The support is attached to an item of luggage. The item of luggage may be a receptacle used to transport articles during travel. For example, the luggage item may be a suitcase, a wheeled suitcase, an attaché case, a duffel bag, a backpack, a bag (e.g., a canvas or laundry bag), a briefcase, an item of wheeled luggage, a carry-on luggage item, or any other receptacle or platform for moving items about.
In some embodiments, for example as shown in
In other embodiments, the support 101 does not include an extension handle, as shown for instance in
In some embodiments, fold-out tray 100 includes an engagement latch (not shown) configured to keep the proximal end of the support within the chamber when the support is in the extended position. In some embodiments, the fold-out tray 100 further includes a button 201 at the top end 102 of the support 101, and an actuator (not shown) disposed in an interior space of the support, the actuator coupled to the button and to the engagement latch, wherein the actuator is configured to move linearly in the direction of the engagement latch when the button is depressed, and the engagement latch is configured to move into the disengaged position when the actuator moves linearly in the direction of the engagement latch. The engagement latch (not shown) may fix the lower end 103 of the support 101 to the interior rod either when the support 101 is extended or retracted; the engagement latch may also secure the lower end 103 to the chamber directly.
In other embodiments, the support 101 is not slidably engaged to the item of luggage. For instance, proximal end of the support 101 may be affixed to the item of luggage. In other embodiments, the proximal end of the support 101 is coupled to the item of luggage by a second connector (not shown). The second connector may be a hinge.
In some embodiments, the support 101 further comprises a niche 111 into which the main panel inserts when the main panel 104 is in the first position. The main panel 104 may be substantially flush with the outer surface of the support 101 when in the first position. The niche 111 may be substantially the same shape as the main panel 104.
The fold-out tray 100 may include one or more features that secure the main panel 104 in the first position. For instance, the tray 100 may include a strap (not shown) that secures the main panel 104 in place. The tray 100 may include a groove and tab arrangement that holds the main panel 104 in place. The tray 100 may include one or more fasteners, such as snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, or buckles, that secure the main panel 104 in place. In some embodiments, for instance as illustrated in
In some embodiments, for instance as shown in
In some embodiments, where the support 101 includes a pocket 400, the main panel 104 stows in the pocket when rotated into the first position. The stowing process may involve rotating or sliding the main panel 104 down to stow it completely within the pocket 400, and securing it in place by closing the pocket 400.
The fold-out tray 100 includes a main panel 104. The main panel 104 has a proximal end 105 and a distal end 106. The main panel 104 may be constructed from any material or combination of materials suitable for the construction of the support 101. In some embodiments, the main panel 104 has a work surface; the work surface may be substantially flat. The work surface may be facing up when the main panel 104 is in the second position; the work surface may be substantially horizontal when the main panel 104 is in the second position, where the work surface is substantially horizontal when a user may rest an object such as a dish, book, laptop, or similar consumer good on the work surface and rely on the combination of gravity and friction to keep the object stationary on the work surface. The upper surface of a table or desk may be substantially horizontal in the current usage. The work surface of the main panel 104 may have any shape conducive to the use of the main panel to support objects in a manner similar to a table or desk. The perimeter of the work surface may combine any regular or irregular polygonal or curved forms; for instance, the perimeter of the work surface may be substantially rectangular. The perimeter of the work surface may be substantially rectangular except for a curved indentation at one end; the curved indentation may be substantially semicircular.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, the extension 500 points downward in a vertical direction when the main panel 104 is in the second position, and prevents the main panel 104 from rotating further, for instance by contacting a substantially rigid, substantially vertical surface of the support 101.
In other embodiments, the connector 107 is constructed to have a range of motion substantially limited to 90 degrees; as a result, the main panel 104 may be held in its second position by the lower limit of the range of motion permitted by the connector 107.
Returning to
In some embodiments, the connector 107 is slidably engaged to the support 101. For instance, the connector 107 may be slidably mounted on at least one mounting rod (not shown) making up a part of the support 101; for instance, a hole through a part of the connector 107 may fit snugly but slidably on the at least one mounting rod. In some embodiments, the connector 107 is mounted on the at least one mounting rod using a sleeve fixed to the connector 107, the sleeve fitting snugly around the at least one mounting rod. The mounting rod may, for instance, be one or more handle rods making up an extension handle, or an additional rod. In other embodiments, the connector 107 is slidably engaged within the niche 111; for instance, the connector 107 may have one or more extensions (not shown) inserted into grooves 111 in walls of the niche 111, so that the connector is able to travel up and down length of the grooves. The connector 107 may be so formed that the connector 107 cannot be easily removed from the grooves, for instance by virtue of the connector having planar surfaces closely fitted against the walls of the niche 111 that contain the grooves. Persons skilled in the art will be aware of alternative ways that the connector 107 may be slidably engaged to the support 101.
The fold-out tray 100 may include one or more means to stop the connector from sliding up or down while the main panel 104 is being used to support an object. In some embodiments, the weight of the main panel 104 itself, or the weight of an item placed on the main panel 104 in combination with the weight of the main panel 104 itself, fixes the position of the connector 104 with respect to the at least one mounting rod or groove through static friction. In some embodiments, the connector 107 has a latch (not shown) causing the connector 107 to remain in a fixed position with respect to the support 101; the latch may be any suitable latch to engage a connector to a rod. In some embodiments, the latch may be a spring-loaded bolt or pin mounted in the connector 107 that engages a hole or slot in the support 107, and which the user must push or pull out of the hole or slot to enable the connector 107 to slide again; the connector 107 may have an object on its outer surface that the user may push or pull to disengage the bolt or pin. In other embodiments, the at least one mounting rod has an obstruction, such as a flange, that arrests the connector's movement when it has been slid to the proper height for moving the main panel 104 into the second position; likewise, where the connector travels in grooves as described above, the grooves may end where the connector 107 has reached the correct height to fold the main panel 104 into the second position. The latch may engage automatically and disengage automatically given sufficient force by the user.
In other embodiments, the connector 107 is affixed to the support 101. For instance, where the support 101 is slidably engaged to the item of luggage as described above, the support 101 may be extended to a position where the main panel 104 can be moved into the second position, and fixed there by a latch or other device.
Returning to
The distal end 110 of the brace 108 contacts the main panel 104 at a point between the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104 and the distal end 106 of the main panel when the main panel 104 is in the second position; the point of contact may be at least one quarter of the length of the main panel 104 from the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104. Where the distal end 110 of the brace 108 is slidably attached to the main panel 104, the point of contact of the distal end 110 of the brace 108 with the main panel 104 may be closer to the distal end 106 of the main panel 104 when the main panel is in the second position than when the main panel 104 is in the first position; in other words, the distal end 110 of the brace 108 may slide toward the distal end 106 of the main panel 104 when the main panel 104 is rotated into the second position, and may slide toward the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104 when the main panel is rotated into the first position. In some embodiments, the main panel 104 includes a stopper 113 that prevents the distal 110 end of the brace 108 from sliding toward the distal end 106 of the main panel 104 when the main panel 104 is in the second position. The stopper 113 may combine with the orthogonally projecting walls 114 described above to form a niche in which the distal 110 of the brace 108 slides.
The proximal end of the brace 109 may be pivotally attached some distance below the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104. In some embodiments, the proximal end 109 of the brace 108 is pivotally attached to the connector 107; in other words, the connector 107 may extend downward to where the proximal 109 end is attached. As a result, where the connector 107 is slidably attached to the support 101, the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104 and the proximal 109 of the brace 108 may travel up and down with the connector 107. In other embodiments, the proximal end 109 of the brace 108 is pivotally attached to the support 101.
In other embodiments, the proximal end 109 of the brace 108 is pivotally fixed to the support 101, and the distal end 110 of the brace is not attached to the main panel; the main panel 104 may rest on the distal end 110 with out being attached to the distal end 110. For instance, the brace 108 may be able to pivot between a stowed position and a deployed position. The distal end 110 may be closer to the support 101 in the stowed position than in the deployed position. As a non-limiting example, the brace 108 may have a substantially triangular form, in which one side is hinged to the support 101 by a connector having an axis of rotation substantially vertical; the brace 108 may pivot outward so that the distal end 110 contacts the main panel 104 when the main panel 104 is in the second position. In another non-limiting example, the brace pivots vertically; that is, the brace may pivot about a substantially horizontal axis, between a stowed position in which the distal end 110 of the brace 108 is against the support and a deployed position in which the distal end 110 has swung outward and downward. There may be a biasing means, such as a spring or weight, that urges the brace 108 from the stowed position to the deployed position. In some embodiments, a mechanism that holds the brace 108 in the stowed position until the user deploys the main panel 104; in one embodiment, the mechanism is the connector 107, and the brace 108 deploys when the connector is slid upward with respect to the support 101. In another embodiment, the brace 108 is restrained by a latch, a pocket, container that holds the support, 101, or other barrier, as described above for restraining the main panel 104. The user may push the brace back into the stowed position prior to folding up the tray.
In other embodiments, the distal end 110 of the brace is pivotally connected to the main panel. The proximal end 109 of the brace 108 may be slidably engaged to the connector 107; the slidable engagement may be accomplished as described above for the slidable engagement of the distal end 110 to the main panel 104. The connector 107 may further include a stopper (not shown) that prevents the proximal end of the brace from sliding toward the lower end of the support when the main panel 104 is in the second position; the stopper may function similarly to the stopper of the main panel 104 described above. The proximal end 109 of the brace 108 may be slidably engaged to the support 101; the slidable engagement may be accomplished as described above for the slidable engagement of the distal end 110 to the main panel 104. The support 101 may further include a stopper (not shown) that prevents the proximal end of the brace from sliding toward the lower end of the support when the main panel 104 is in the second position; the stopper may function similarly to the stopper of the main panel 104 described above.
In other embodiments, the brace 108 is pivotally connected to the main panel 104 and not connected to the support 101; for instance, the for instance, the brace 108 may be able to pivot between a stowed position and a deployed position. The proximal end 109 may be closer to the main panel 101 in the stowed position than in the deployed position. As a non-limiting example, the brace 108 may have a substantially triangular form, in which one side is hinged to the main panel 104 by a connector having an axis of rotation substantially horizontal when the main panel 104 is in the second position; the brace 108 may pivot downward so that the proximal end 109 contacts the support 101 when the main panel 104 is in the second position. In another non-limiting example, the brace pivots proximal end 109 of the brace 108 is closer to the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104 and a deployed position in which the proximal end 109 has swung downward to a point on the support 101 farther from the proximal end 105 of the main panel 104. There may be a biasing means, such as a spring or weight, that urges the brace 108 from the stowed position to the deployed position. In some embodiments, a mechanism that holds the brace 108 in the stowed position until the user deploys the main panel 104; in one embodiment, the brace 108 is restrained by a latch, a pocket, container that holds the support, 101, or other barrier, as described above for restraining the main panel 104. The user may push the brace back into the stowed position prior to folding up the tray.
The brace 108 may be mechanically coupled to the main panel 104 so that moving the main panel 104 from the first position to the second position also moves the brace 108 into its deployed position. The mechanical coupling may be accomplished, for instance, by a lever joining the brace 108 to the main panel 104 or one or more gears joining the brace 108 to the main panel 104 or to the connector 107. The brace itself may extend as the user pulls the tray out; the brace 108 may also retract when the user moves the main panel 104 back to the first position, by means of the mechanical coupling, or the user may have to move the brace 108 back to the stowed position. The brace 108 may have a lock that secures it in the extended position. The user may press a button (not shown) to disengage the lock.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The at least one connector may support the one or more leaves 300 in their deployed positions. In other embodiments, the main panel further includes at least one lip 301 that extends beneath the at least one leaf 300 when the at least one leaf is in the deployed position, preventing the at least one leaf 300 from further rotation away from the folded position; in other words, the at least one lip 301 may support the at least one leaf 300 in the deployed position so that the work surfaces of the at least one leaf 300 and main panel 104 together function as a stable support surface similar to a desk or table. In some embodiments, as illustrated in
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62297979 | Feb 2016 | US |