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Child's travel trayChild's travel tray description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070029848, Child's travel tray. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/256,462, filed Mar. 20, 2006, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/698,776, filed Oct. 31, 2003, now abandoned, both applications being incorporated by reference in their entireties herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to a device that is adapted for selective interconnection to a child's seat, such as a car safety seat or a stroller. One embodiment of the present invention includes one or more locations adapted to receive and secure a drink holder and may employ a reinforced area adapted for play or drawing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Automobile child safety seats are required by law in many jurisdictions of the United States. That is, caretakers of young children are often mandated to restrain their child in government approved restraint seats while the child is seated in the automobile, thereby reducing the probability of injury to the child in the event of an accident. To increase safety, many public transportation systems accommodate child safety seats. Child safety seats provide a location for comfortably seating a child, a mechanism for securing the child therein, and locations wherein the child safety seat is attached to the interior of the automobile. Many jurisdictions also dictate that children be seated in the rear compartment of an automobile to further avoid serious injury to the child due to a collision or from airbag deployment, which are generally located in the front compartment of the automobile. [0004] Since children are usually seated in the rear compartment of an automobile for protection, driver interaction with the child is practically impossible and often dangerous. Alternatively, if two people are in the car together, one often sits in the rear to tend to the child, making conversation between the two adults distracting and difficult. As most parents will appreciate, children tend to become bored without a sufficient amount of stimulation when driving on long car trips, which can lead to distraction of the driver of the automobile if the child becomes disruptive. Many automobiles employ entertainment devices to occupy children, such as DVD players, VCR players, and video games, either integrated into the ceiling or front seats of the automobile. Although these entertainment means provide children with sufficient stimulation during a trip, many parents either cannot afford an automobile that includes these amenities or do not wish their children to watch too much TV, for example. Thus, the child is left to his or her own devices during a long journey, which often leads to disruptive behavior. [0005] Further during extended automobile trips and airline flights, children are in need of food or entertainment as well. Since airline practices generally dictate that during the flight passengers should be securely seat belted, feeding and interaction with the child is difficult. More specifically, the side-by-side seating arrangement of many aircraft renders child interaction difficult because the caretaker of the child must twist somewhat to face the child. [0006] In addition, parents usually find interacting with their children difficult when using a stroller, because their main function is to push the stroller while performing everyday activities, such as grocery shopping. Thus, as described above, the child is potentially unstimulated. [0007] Thus, there is a long felt need in the area of childcare to provide an apparatus that is adapted to selectively interface with a child's seat that allows the caretakers to perform their normal duties, while providing enough mental stimulation to the children in their care. [0008] The following disclosure describes a device that is adapted for selective interconnection to a child safety seat, a stroller, an airplane seat, or any seat adapted to receive a child, wherein pockets, holders and play areas are provided such that the child will have an increased ability to play, store a beverage, etc. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a tray that is adapted for selective interconnection to a child safety seat generally used in automobiles. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is adapted to selectively interconnect with a child safety seat through the use of hook and loop fasteners, snaps, zippers, "C"-channels, latches, etc. Preferably, one embodiment of the present invention is provided with hook and loop fasteners, wherein the caretaker interconnects, with glue for example, one side of the fastener to the child safety seat and wherein the other mating surface of the fastener is interconnected to the tray. Upon seating a child and strapping them in safely into the child safety seat, the caretaker simply drapes the tray over the child's legs, thereby providing an area for play and storage. The tray is secured to the child safety seat by selectively interconnecting the hook and loop material halves together on both sides. Alternatively, the tray of the present invention may be rigidly interconnected to one side of the safety seat via screws or bolts, wherein the other side is selectively interconnected thereto to provide a hinged interconnection scheme. [0010] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a tray that is adapted to interface with other child seating devices such as an airplane seat, a stroller seat or a high chair. With respect to an airplane seat, it is envisioned that magnets or other selective interconnection devices be employed to interconnect the tray to the existing arms of airplane seats. Alternatively, the tray of the present invention may be supplied with sleeves that slide onto the two arms of the air seats that are generally located on all commercial aircraft, thereby providing a stable foundation for which to support the tray. With respect to a baby stroller, the same interconnection method described above may be used. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides the consumer with a hook and loop fastener system, wherein one side of the fastener is permanently secured to an existing baby stroller. It is another aspect of the present invention to include a plurality of pockets integrated into the tray to provide locations wherein toys, books, or other items, generally used with children, may be stored. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides at least two mesh pockets that are adapted to hold items such as crayons, markers, drawing paper, baby bottles, video games, diapers, etc. In addition, as will be described in greater detail below, the present invention also includes a reinforced area for play. The reinforced area of one embodiment is adapted to be used for drawing and may include a plurality of pen holders or pockets to hold drawing supplies. [0011] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a location for drawing. In one embodiment of the present invention, rigid material, such as plastic, wood, aluminum, steel, tin, etc., is selectively interconnected to a portion of the tray that rests generally over the child's lap, thereby providing an area for playing or drawing. In a related embodiment of the present invention, the rigid portion is removable, such that the tray may be used in a plurality of situations, depending on the needs of the child. [0012] Another embodiment of the invention integrates a wipe on/wipe off board into a portion of the tray that is positioned over the child's lap, which is repeatedly used with non-permanent markers, thereby reducing clutter in the automobile. In addition, games such as tic-tac toe, etch-a-sketch, road bingo, etc., may be employed on the lap portion of the tray to provide entertainment to a child. The tray may also include a magnetic surface or a surface with hook and loop fasteners that provide a location for selective interconnection of magnetized blocks or toys with hook and loop material thereon, for example. [0013] Another related aspect of the present invention is that it be capable of displaying video images directly on the lap portion of the tray. More specifically, as DVD players and computer screens become thinner, it is envisioned that such a screen therefore be integrated into the tray such that the addition of a power cord and video feed cord may be integrated into the present invention, wherein a child's favorite movies, games, or educational computer programs would be displayed thereon. Alternatively, the tray may be adapted to receive a tablet type computer, wherein the power source and the video feed capabilities are included therein. [0014] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a tray that may selectively secure a cup, can, plastic bottle, or other beverage storage device. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one drink holder. Preferably, the drink holders of the present invention are made of a mesh material. Alternatively, the drink holders are of a non-mesh material and are adapted to hold other items such as toys, crayons, tissues, pacifiers, snacks, etc. [0015] Yet another aspect of the present invention is that it be constructed of cost effective materials. Preferably, one embodiment of the present invention is constructed from nylon, wherein the pockets and cup holders are sewn in one unit. Alternatively, other compliant materials, such as cloth, may be employed that provide an easily maintainable and repairable tray. One advantage of many compliant materials is their resistance to fluids, wherein spills may be contained on the tray. One embodiment of the present invention is hand or machine washable. In addition, a compliant tray is easily folded for storage. Alternatively, the present invention may be constructed, at least partly, from a rigid material to provide a more stable play location. [0016] As should be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be easily scaled to any size or be constructed of any color material. In addition, it is envisioned that company logos, or brightly colored objects be integrated on the tray to provide additional visual stimulation to the child. [0017] Thus it is one aspect of the present invention to provide a travel tray that selectively interconnects to a child safety seat comprising: [0018] a surface that is defined by a left edge, a right edge, an interior edge, and an exterior edge, wherein said surface is adapted for positioning over the lap of a child sitting in the child's seat; [0019] a left fastening mechanism interconnected proximate to said left edge of said surface, wherein said left fastening mechanism is adapted for selective interconnection to the left arm of the child's seat; [0020] a right fastening mechanism interconnected proximate to said right edge of said surface, wherein said right fastening mechanism is adapted for selective interconnection to the right arm of the child's seat; and [0021] wherein said surface is made of a compliant material and is adapted to receive a substantially rigid panel that is positioned proximate to the child's lap and is adapted to support at least one of a toy, a book, and a play device when said left fastening mechanism and said right fastening mechanism are selectively interconnected to the left arm and the right arm of the child's seat. Continue reading about Child's travel tray... Full patent description for Child's travel tray Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Child's travel tray patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Child's travel tray or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Locking mechanism for a folding chair Next Patent Application: Highchair Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Child's travel tray patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.1494 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
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