DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows a multifunctional tray for use in a vehicle passenger cabin generally designated by reference numeral 10 . More specifically, the tray 10 can be embedded in a vehicle arm rest (not shown). Specifically, the tray 10 is preferably disposed in a fold-down arm rest provided with one set of rear seats of a sport utility vehicle.

[0017] The tray or tray body 10 is provided with a plurality of temporary and functional storage area structures. The structures are generally ergonomically positioned within an arm rest of a vehicle for use by passengers of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the structures include a first food or beverage receiving structure 12 , a second food or beverage receiving structure 14 , a recessed bin or bin recess structure 16 , and a third food or beverage receiving structure 18 .

[0018] The first and second structures 12 , 14 are appropriately sized to receive conventional, circular-shaped beverage containers and other similar sized and shaped food containers. For example, a vehicle passenger may store a beverage cup from a fast food restaurant, a sundae container, a twelve ounce soft drink can, etc. in one or both of the structures 12 , 14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the structures 12 , 14 are similarly sized and adapted for similar uses. However, it is contemplated that one or both of the structures 12 , 14 may be designed for different sized containers and/or different types of food and beverage related items.

[0019] The bin 16 is a larger, rectangular-shaped structure. While the bin 16 could be used to temporarily store a passenger's food items such as a sandwich from a fast food restaurant, the bin 16 is also suitable for storing a multitude of other items such as coin currency, mobile phones, glasses and the like. Thus, the bin serves as a multipurpose recessed storage area.

[0020] The third storage area structure 18 is appropriately sized to receive and contain conventional condiment containers such as fast food dipping sauces. The third structure 18 , also referred to herein as a condiment container receiving structure, is relatively shallower than the first and second structures 12 , 14 . Further, the condiment container receiving structure 18 is adapted to receive and retain condiment containers of varying shapes and to allow easy removal of condiment containers contained therein with access through the bin 16 as will be described in more detail below.

[0021] The tray 10 is preferably formed of a rigid plastic material. However, it is contemplated that other known materials can be used to form the tray, particularly, those that are currently adapted for use in vehicle passenger cabins. The plastic tray 10 includes a top surface 20 that defines a plurality of apertures corresponding to the aforementioned storage structures 12 - 18 .

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the top surface 20 is generally a planar surface that, when installed in a vehicle, is generally coplanar with a top portion of the vehicle arm rest when the arm rest is in an operative position, i.e., down and resting on or adjacent a horizontal portion of a vehicle's seats. Of course, the top surface 20 does not have to be generally coplanar with the top portion of the vehicle arm rest or even generally planar itself. For example, the top surface 20 could have a stepped configuration wherein at least two different apertures of the plurality of apertures on the top surface 20 are at different elevations relative to one another.

[0023] The plurality of apertures defined in the top surface 20 includes a first beverage container receiving aperture 22 and a second beverage container receiving aperture 24 corresponding, respectively, to the first and second structures 14 , 16 . The apertures 22 , 24 are spaced apart from one another on the planar surface 20 and located adjacent a first or front edge 26 of the tray 10 .

[0024] The plurality of apertures further includes a bin aperture 28 and a condiment receiving aperture 30 corresponding, respectively, to the bin 16 and the third structure 18 . The bin aperture 28 is spaced apart from the apertures 22 , 24 and positioned adjacent a second or back edge 32 of the tray 12 . The condiment container receiving aperture 30 is positioned adjacent the bin aperture 28 in an area of the tray 12 that is located generally between the bin aperture 28 and the apertures 22 , 24 .

[0025] With additional reference to FIG. 2 , the first structure 12 includes a circular base wall 34 spaced apart from the planar surface 20 and a circular side wall 36 extending between the base wall 34 and the planar surface 20 . The walls 34 , 36 , the aperture 22 and a plane of the planar top surface 20 together define a cup-shaped first receiving region 38 . The first structure 12 additionally includes a plurality of radial protrusions 40 extending into the first region 38 from the side wall 36 adjacent the planar surface 20 . In the illustrated embodiment, three protrusions 40 are provided and equally spaced apart around a circumference of the aperture 22 .

[0026] The second structure 14 is the same as or similar to the first structure 12 . The second structure includes a circular base wall 34 spaced apart from the planar surface 20 and a circular side wall 36 extending between the base wall 34 and the planar surface 20 . The walls 34 , 36 , the aperture 24 and the plane of the planar surface 20 together define a cup-shaped second receiving region 42 . The second structure 14 includes protrusions 40 oriented in the same manner as those provided on the first structure 12 .

[0027] The bin 16 includes a rectangular-shaped bin base wall 44 spaced apart from the planar top surface 20 and a plurality of side walls 46 , 48 , 50 , 52 formed integrally with the base wall 44 and the top surface 20 . The side walls 46 - 52 extend between the top surface 20 and the base wall 44 . A rectangular, box-shaped bin cavity 54 having an open upper end is defined by the base wall 44 , the side walls 46 - 52 and the plane of the planar surface 20 .

[0028] With additional reference to FIG. 3 , the condiment container receiving structure 18 , also referred to herein as a container recess, includes a container base wall or base wall section 56 spaced apart from the planar surface 20 and adapted to support a food item such as a condiment or sauce container. An arcuate wall or arcuate wall section 58 extends between the base wall 56 and the top surface 20 . The arcuate wall 58 , also referred to herein as a circular aperture wall, has an upper edge 60 and a lower edge 62 . The upper edge 60 is adjacent the top surface 20 and disposed in the plane of the top surface 20 . The lower edge 62 is adjacent the bottom wall 56 . The arcuate wall 58 is formed integrally with the base wall 56 at the lower edge 62 .

[0029] The arcuate wall 58 is generally C-shaped and has a first end 64 and a second end 66 . The ends 64 , 66 are generally coplanar with the side wall 46 that is adjacent the structure 18 . More specifically, the first and second ends 64 , 66 are spaced apart from one another. Further, the first and second ends 64 , 66 are formed integrally and in abutting contact with the side wall 46 thereby forming a channel or channel opening 68 between or at the intersection of the condiment receiving structure 18 and the bin 16 .

[0030] Although the condiment receiving structure 18 is illustrated and described herein as being adjacent the bin 16 , it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the structure 18 could alternatively be positioned next to or adjacent any open area. For example, the structure 18 could be positioned adjacent another storage area structure or the structure 18 could be positioned along an edge of the tray 10 provided that the edge is adjacent an open area. Alternatively, the storage structure 18 could be used without the tray 10 . For example, the storage structure 18 could be positioned in or near a vehicle door arm rest or anywhere else in the vehicle. In these alternate configurations, the channel opening 68 of the storage structure 18 is formed between or at the intersection of the structure 18 and the open area the structure 18 is positioned next to or adjacent. In any case, the storage structure 18 functions to receive a condiment container or like, prevent the same from moving transversely through the channel opening 68 to the open area and allow access to the received condiment container for removal from the storage structure 18 as will be described in more detail below.

[0031] In any arrangement, including that shown and described herein, the channel opening 68 forms a chord-shaped side of the condiment receiving structure 18 . More specifically, the channel opening 68 and the arcuate wall 58 define the condiment container receiving aperture 30 as a segmentary-shaped opening. The channel opening 68 forms a chord of the segmentary-shaped aperture 30 . The generally rectangular-shaped chord opening 68 has a height that extends from the base wall 56 to the plane of the top surface 20 and a longitudinal or chord length that extends from the first end 64 to the second end 66 .

[0032] Within the structure 18 , a storage area or container cavity 70 is defined. Specifically, the chord opening 68 subtends the arcuate wall 58 to delimit the container cavity 70 . Thus, the cavity 70 is defined between the arcuate wall 58 , the plane of the top surface 20 , the base wall 56 and the chord opening 68 . The cavity 70 and the aperture 30 in the top surface 20 are each appropriately sized to selectively receive conventional condiment containers and, specifically, condiment containers that are rectangular or circular shaped. Thus, a diameter of the aperture 30 is large enough to accommodate conventional condiment containers. Further, the structure 18 and, specifically, the cavity 70 are oriented in relation to the bin 16 and the chord opening 68 is appropriately sized to allow access to condiment containers held in the cavity 70 from the bin 16 for ready removal thereof.

[0033] Additionally, the chord length of the channel opening 68 is appropriately sized to prevent egress of a held condiment container through the channel opening 68 and into the bin 16 while not overly obstructing access to the held condiment container through the channel opening 68 . More specifically, each food or condiment container that could be placed in the condiment structure has a major length. For example, when the condiment container is generally rectangular-shaped, the major length is the longitudinal length of the container. When the condiment container is generally circular-shaped, the major length is the diameter. Other containers have major lengths as well. For example, when the condiment container is generally elliptical-shaped, the major length is the major diameter of the container. Irrespective of the shape of the container, to prevent egress of a held condiment container through the channel opening 68 , the chord length of the channel opening 68 is less than the major length of the condiment container held in the structure 18 . Thus, if the condiment container is rectangular, the chord length is less than the longitudinal length of the container; if the condiment container is circular, the chord length is less than the diameter of the container, and so forth.

[0034] The relative sizes of the chord length and the condiment container major length, i.e., the condiment container major length is larger than the chord length, does not restrict a vehicle passenger from using the condiment receiving structure 18 for containers that have major lengths smaller than the chord length. However, the retention feature of the present invention preferably functions when the major length of the condiment container is greater than the chord length. Thus, when the major length of a food item or condiment container is greater than the chord length, the food item received in the structure 18 is retained in the cavity 70 and prevented from transversely moving into the bin cavity 54 of the bin 16 .

[0035] With specific reference to FIG. 3 , the condiment container receiving structure 18 includes a rotation prevention means for preventing some types of condiment containers held within the cavity 70 from rotating and exiting the cavity 70 through the channel opening 68 . In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation prevention means is a rotation prevention member 72 , also referred to herein as a positioning member and an insert, that protrudes into the cavity 70 from the arcuate wall 58 . The arcuate-shaped rotation prevention member 72 extends along a portion of the arcuate wall 58 directly opposite the channel opening 68 and the bin 16 . The rotation prevention member 72 further includes an arcuate notch 74 for centrally positioning arcuate condiment containers along the rotation prevention member 72 .

[0036] The rotation prevention member 72 spaces a condiment container held in the cavity 70 away from the arcuate wall 58 and positions these held condiment containers adjacent the bin 16 . Types of condiment containers held in the cavity that are prevented from rotating include rectangular-shaped condiment containers. As discussed above, rectangular condiment containers have a major length that is the longitudinal length. Rectangular condiment containers also have a minor length that is the length of the shorter sides of the rectangular container, i.e., the length of the sides that connect the longitudinal sides. In many rectangular-shaped condiment containers, the minor length of the shorter sides is not greater than the chord length of the channel opening. Thus, if a rectangular-shaped condiment container that is ordinarily held in the cavity because its major length exceeds the chord length were to rotate approximately ninety degrees, the shorter sides of the rectangular condiment container could fit through the chord opening 68 and allow the container to egress from the cavity 70 . The rotation prevention member 72 prevents such a rectangular condiment container from rotating by occupying the space required for a conventional rectangular-shaped condiment container to rotate thereby preventing the shorter sides from being able to pass through the channel opening 68 .

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation prevention member 72 extends from the base wall 56 to a height along the arcuate wall 58 that is below the planar surface 20 . This height difference or step effect between the arcuate wall 58 and the rotation prevention member 72 provides access to a portion of the condiment container held in the condiment structure 18 and allows a user of the condiment structure 18 to more easily grip the condiment container contained therein. The channel opening 68 also provides access to a portion of the condiment container held in the structure 18 , including access to or near an underside of the condiment container, and permits the user of the condiment structure 18 to more easily grip condiment containers contained therein.

[0038] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.