Adjustable armchair tray

Abstract

A multi-functional adjustable tray that mounts on the arm of a chair to provide a comfortably accessible work surface to support a computer mouse and other IO devices. The adjustable tray may be easily mounted to an arm of a chair and provides width, length, rotation, and storage adjustments. The adjustable tray includes a platform that is pivotally connected to an armchair stop. The armchair stop may be supported by adjustable guides that may be secured to the chair arm by a compression element. The tray may include one or more rotatable joints to allow the platform or IO devices to be tilted to a comfortable working angle.

1 . An adjustable tray for use on a chair arm having a top surface and a width dimension, comprising: 
 an armchair stop fastened to the chair arm;    a platform defining a securing hole; and    a movable fastener having body and a head, the body passing through the securing hole into the armchair stop, wherein the platform is rotatably connected to the armchair stop by the movable fastener, and wherein the platform is movable from an approximately horizontal plane to an approximately vertical plane.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the armchair stop further comprises: 
 a generally horizontal surface defining a first slot, the first slot adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough; and    a generally vertical surface defining a second slot, the second slot connected to the first slot and adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough;    wherein the movable fastener passes from the first slot to the second slot and vice-versa, allowing the platform to be positioned in an approximately horizontal plane and an approximately vertical plane.    
   
   
       3 . The adjustable tray of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical surface further defines: 
 a third slot in the vertical surface, the third slot connected to the second slot and adapted to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough and adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener; and    a hole connected to the third slot and adapted to allow the head of the movable fastener to pass therethrough;    whereby the platform may be released from the armchair stop by passing the movable fastener through the third slot and passing the head through the enlarged region.    
   
   
       4 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an elongated guide adjustably connected to the armchair stop, wherein the elongated guide supports the armchair stop, the elongated guide is adjustable to fit the adjustable tray to the width dimension of the chair arm, and the elongated guide has a first end and a second end; and    a compression element circumvolving the chair arm and the elongated guide to secure the elongated guide to the chair arm.    
   
   
       5 . The adjustable tray of  claim 4 , wherein the armchair stop further defines a hole adapted to receive the first end of the elongated guide, and wherein the first end of the elongated guide is slideable within the hole to adjust the adjustable tray to fit the width dimension of the chair arm.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable tray of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated guide further defines at least one slit; wherein the compression element passes through the slit to secure the elongated guide to the chair arm.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable tray of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated guide is shaped in an S-curve to maintain the generally planar working surface approximately level with the top of the chair arm.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable tray of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated guide further comprises a tab connected to the second end, wherein the tab is adapted to keep the compression element between the first end and the second end.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable tray of  claim 4 , wherein the compression element is a strap.  
   
   
       10 . The adjustable tray of  claim 9 , further comprising a hook and loop style fastener.  
   
   
       11 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the armchair stop is rigidly affixed to the chair arm.  
   
   
       12 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer affixed to the platform to retain objects on the platform.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a cushioning material disposed on the platform, on the elongated guide, and on the armchair stop.  
   
   
       14 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the platform defines a perimeter shaped generally as an oval.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable tray of  claim 14 , wherein the perimeter defines a region converging more sharply than an oval, whereby the converging region tends to urge the platform aside when the platform comes in contact with an obstacle.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the movable fastener body comprises a threaded shank and a threaded nut fastenable on the threaded shank, the threaded nut having no sharp edges when fastened to the shank.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustable tray of  claim 16 , wherein the movable fastener further comprises a friction device that resists rotation of the movable fastener.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the platform further comprises a generally planar working surface that is approximately level with the top of the chair arm.  
   
   
       19 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the platform further comprises: 
 an arm defining the securing hole and having a first rotatable joint, wherein the rotatable joint allows the generally planar surface to be rotated around a first axis.    
   
   
       20 . The adjustable tray of  claim 19 , wherein the arm further comprises: 
 a second rotatable joint, wherein the second rotatable joint allows the generally planar surface to be rotated around a second axis.    
   
   
       21 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the arm further comprises: 
 flexible material affixed to the arm and positioned so that the movable fastener passes therethrough;    whereby the flexible material resists rotation of the movable fastener and resists rotation of the arm.    
   
   
       22 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , wherein the platform further comprises an IO device.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustable tray of  claim 22 , wherein the IO device comprises a keyboard.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustable tray of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an elongated guide connected to the armchair stop, wherein the elongated guide supports the armchair stop;    wherein the chair arm defines a first cavity adapted to movably accept the elongated guide;    whereby the position of the armchair stop relative to the chair arm may be adjusted by moving the elongated guide within the first cavity.    
   
   
       25 . The adjustable tray of  claim 24 , wherein the chair arm further defines a second cavity adapted to receive the armchair stop.  
   
   
       26 . An adjustable tray for use on a chair arm having a top surface and a width dimension, comprising: 
 an armchair stop;    a platform;    a first arm attached to the platform;    a second arm defining a securing hole;    a joint rotatably connecting the first arm and the second arm, wherein the platform may be rotated by rotating the first arm relative to the second arm; and    a fastener having a body and a head, the body passing through the securing hole into the armchair stop, wherein the second arm is rotatably connected to the armchair stop by the movable fastener.    
   
   
       27 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , wherein the armchair stop further comprises: 
 a generally horizontal surface defining a first slot, the first slot adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough; and    a generally vertical surface defining a second slot, the second slot connected to the first slot and adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough;    wherein the movable fastener passes from the first slot to the second slot and vice-versa, allowing the platform to be positioned in an approximately horizontal plane and an approximately vertical plane.    
   
   
       28 . The adjustable tray of  claim 27 , wherein the vertical surface further defines: 
 a third slot in the vertical surface, the third slot connected to the second slot and adapted to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough and adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener; and    a hole connected to the third slot and adapted to allow the head of the movable fastener to pass therethrough;    whereby the platform may be released from the armchair stop by passing the movable fastener through the third slot and passing the head through the enlarged region.    
   
   
       29 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 an elongated guide adjustably connected to the armchair stop, wherein the elongated guide supports the armchair stop, the elongated guide is adjustable to fit the adjustable tray to the width dimension of the chair arm, and the elongated guide has a first end and a second end; and    a compression element circumvolving the chair arm and the elongated guide to secure the elongated guide to the chair arm.    
   
   
       30 . The adjustable tray of  claim 29 , wherein the armchair stop further defines a hole adapted to receive the first end of the elongated guide, and wherein the first end of the elongated guide is slideable within the hole to adjust the adjustable tray to fit the width dimension of the chair arm.  
   
   
       31 . The adjustable tray of  claim 29 , wherein the elongated guide further defines at least one slit; wherein the compression element passes through the slit to secure the elongated guide to the chair arm.  
   
   
       32 . The adjustable tray of  claim 29 , wherein the elongated guide is shaped in an S-curve to maintain the generally planar working surface approximately level with the top of the chair arm.  
   
   
       33 . The adjustable tray of  claim 29 , wherein the elongated guide further comprises a tab connected to the second end, wherein the tab is adapted to keep the compression element between the first end and the second end.  
   
   
       34 . The adjustable tray of  claim 29 , wherein the compression element is a strap.  
   
   
       35 . The adjustable tray of  claim 34 , further comprising a hook and loop style fastener.  
   
   
       36 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , wherein the armchair stop is rigidly affixed to the chair arm.  
   
   
       37 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , further comprising a retainer affixed to the platform to retain objects on the platform.  
   
   
       38 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , further comprising a cushioning material disposed on the platform, on the elongated guide, and on the armchair stop.  
   
   
       39 . The armchair tray of  claim 26 , wherein the platform is rotatably attached to the first arm.  
   
   
       40 . The armchair tray of  claim 26 , wherein the platform is adapted to accommodate a mouse.  
   
   
       41 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , wherein the platform further comprises an IO device.  
   
   
       42 . The adjustable tray of  claim 41 , wherein the IO device comprises a keyboard.  
   
   
       43 . The adjustable tray of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 an elongated guide connected to the armchair stop, wherein the elongated guide supports the armchair stop;    and wherein the chair arm defines a first cavity adapted to movably accept the elongated guide;    whereby the position of the armchair stop relative to the chair arm may be adjusted by moving the elongated guide within the first cavity.    
   
   
       44 . The adjustable tray of  claim 43 , wherein the chair arm further defines a second cavity adapted to receive the armchair stop.  
   
   
       45 . An adjustable tray for use on a chair arm, comprising: 
 a rotatable platform having at least one generally planar surface, wherein the platform defines a perimeter shaped generally as an oval and wherein the perimeter defines a region converging more sharply than an oval, whereby the converging region tends to urge the platform aside when the platform comes in contact with an obstacle.    
   
   
       46 . The adjustable tray of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 a movable fastener having body and a head; and    an armchair stop fastened to the chair arm, the armchair stop comprising:    a generally horizontal surface defining a first slot, the first slot adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough; and    a generally vertical surface defining a second slot, the second slot connected to the first slot and adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough;    wherein the movable fastener passes from the first slot to the second slot and vice-versa, allowing the platform to be positioned in an approximately horizontal plane and an approximately vertical plane.    
   
   
       47 . An adjustable tray for use on a chair arm having a top surface and a width dimension, comprising: 
 a platform; and    an elongated guide supporting the platform;    wherein the chair arm defines a first cavity adapted to movably accept the elongated guide; and    whereby the position of the platform relative to the chair arm may be adjusted by moving the elongated guide within the first cavity.    
   
   
       48 . The adjustable tray of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 a movable fastener having body and a head; and    an armchair stop attached to the elongated guide, the armchair stop comprising:    a generally horizontal surface defining a first slot, the first slot adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough; and    a generally vertical surface defining a second slot, the second slot connected to the first slot and adapted to retain the head of the movable fastener and to allow the body of the movable fastener to pass therethrough;    wherein the movable fastener passes from the first slot to the second slot and vice-versa, allowing the platform to be positioned in an approximately horizontal plane and an approximately vertical plane.    
   
   
       49 . An adjustable tray, for use on a chair arm having a top and defining a width, comprising: 
 a platform comprising:    a planar working surface having a curved perimeter, the perimeter defining a peak wherein the peak serves to urge the platform aside when the platform contacts an obstacle; and    a second surface offset from the plane of the first surface and defining a securing hole;    a movable fastener;    an armchair stop having an approximately horizontal top, an approximately vertical first side, and an approximately vertical second side; the armchair stop defining an elongated slot in the top, the first side, and the second side, and a cavity, wherein the platform is rotatably connected to the armchair stop by the movable fastener, and wherein the movable fastener passes through the securing hole, through the elongated slot, and into the cavity, allowing the movable fastener to pass along the slot to place the platform in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, the armchair stop further defining a first hole in the first side and a second hole in the second side, offset from the first hole;    a first guide comprising a first leg insertable in the first hole and a second leg adapted to conform to the chair arm;    a second guide comprising a third leg insertable in the second hole and a fourth leg adapted to conform to the chair arm;    a compression element capable of passing around the first and second guides and the chair arm to secure the first and second guides to the chair arm,    whereby the first leg and third leg of the first and second guides, respectively, are insertable into the first and second holes a distance appropriate to accommodate the width of the chair arm, and holding the armchair stop and platform so that the working surface is approximately level with the top of the chair arm when the first and second guides are secured to the chair arm.    
   
   
       50 . An adjustable tray, comprising: 
 platform means for supporting an input/output device;    body means for supporting the platform means in a generally horizontal and generally vertical plane;    fastening means for fastening the platform to the body means; and    attachment means for attaching the body means to a chair arm.