Seat or armrest attachment

Abstract

A seat attachment is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments, the seat attachment includes a tablet arm and a tablet arm cupholder. The tablet arm includes a substantially flat work or utility surface and is assembled to a seat cupholder via the tablet arm cupholder. Once assembled, the tablet arm provides a writing surface and can be used to support a book, a laptop computer, a notepad or other items.

1 . A tablet arm attachment comprising: 
 a tablet arm having a utility surface; and    a tablet arm cupholder configured for insertion into a seat or armrest cupholder to secure the tablet arm relative to a seat or armrest.    
   
   
       2 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 1  wherein the tablet arm comprises a tablet body having a first end, a second end and opposed sides and the tablet arm cupholder is located closer to first end than the second end and closer to one side than the other side.  
   
   
       3 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 1  wherein the tablet arm is generally “L” shaped and includes a generally rectangular shaped body portion and arm portion.  
   
   
       4 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 3  wherein the tablet arm cupholder is proximate to the arm portion.  
   
   
       5 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 1  wherein the tablet arm cupholder is insertable into a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.  
   
   
       6 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 5  wherein the tablet arm cupholder includes a perimeter flange which seats into a stepped rim surface about a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle.  
   
   
       7 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 5  wherein the tablet arm cupholder includes a plurality of spaced ribs which abut a collar about a portion of a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.  
   
   
       8 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 1  wherein the tablet arm includes an undersurface opposite to the utility surface having a plurality of ribs.  
   
   
       9 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 8  wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of ribs radially spaced from the tablet arm cupholder or a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.  
   
   
       10 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 8  wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending from the tablet arm cupholder or a receptacle on the tablet arm.  
   
   
       11 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 8  wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of radially spaced ribs and a plurality of longitudinal ribs.  
   
   
       12 . The tablet arm attachment of  claim 5  including at least one latch to secure the tablet arm cupholder in the receptacle on the tablet arm.  
   
   
       13 . A seat attachment assembly comprising: 
 a seat attachment having a cupholder receptacle; and    a cupholder having a portion sized to fit into the cupholder receptacle on the seat attachment and a portion sized for insertion into a seat or armrest cupholder.    
   
   
       14 . The seat attachment assembly of  claim 13  and including one or more latches to releasably connect the cupholder to the seat attachment.  
   
   
       15 . The seat attachment assembly of  claim 13  wherein the cupholder includes a perimeter flange which seats into a stepped perimeter rim of the cupholder receptacle on the seat attachment.  
   
   
       16 . A method comprising the step of: 
 inserting a cupholder coupled to a tablet arm into a seat or armrest cupholder to secure the tablet arm relative to the seat or armrest.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  and comprising the step of: 
 inserting the cupholder into a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm prior to inserting the cupholder into the seat or armrest cupholder.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising the step of: 
 latching the cupholder in the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising the steps of: 
 aligning one or more latch members with one or more latch openings prior to inserting the cupholder into the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising the step of: 
 determining a cupholder size or configuration for the seat or armrest cupholder prior to inserting the cupholder into the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.