Lap tray

Abstract

A lap tray for holding a plurality of eating utensils, or, alternatively, for providing a writing surface, has a rigid base, a lap pillow, a plurality of depressions, and a cover element. The lap pillow is adapted to be attached to a bottom surface of the rigid base, the lap pillow being adapted for supporting the lap tray on an uneven surface such as a lap of a user. The plurality of depressions in a top surface of the rigid base are shaped to hold the plurality of eating utensils. The cover element is shaped to be positioned over the top surface to provide a writing surface.

1 . A lap tray for holding a plurality of eating utensils, or, alternatively, for providing a writing surface, the lap tray comprising: 
 a rigid base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral lip extending upwardly from the top surface;    a lap pillow adapted to be attached to the bottom surface of the rigid base, the lap pillow being adapted for supporting the lap tray on an uneven surface;    a plurality of depressions in the top surface, the plurality of depressions being shaped to hold the plurality of eating utensils; and    a cover element shaped to be positioned over the top surface, on or within the perimeter lip, the cover element having a writing surface.    
     
     
         2 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the lap pillow is removably attached to the rigid base, and further comprising a plurality of support elements extending from the bottom surface of the rigid base, the plurality of support elements being adapted for supporting the lap tray when the lap pillow is removed.  
     
     
         3 . The lap tray of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of support elements comprise a plurality of support legs.  
     
     
         4 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the cover element includes a gripping element that can be grasped while the cover element is positioned over the top surface of the rigid base.  
     
     
         5 . The lap tray of  claim 4 , wherein the gripping element is at least one cutout area that enables the user to fit his or her finger through the cutout area and grasp the cover element.  
     
     
         6 . The lap tray of  claim 4 , wherein the gripping element includes a pair of cutout areas.  
     
     
         7 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of depressions includes a plate depression shaped to receive and frictionally engage a plate, and a cup depression shaped to receive and frictionally engage a cup.  
     
     
         8 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid base includes a pair of C-shaped handles extending from the rigid base.  
     
     
         9 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the lap pillow includes a resilient foam rubber element, and a flexible shell element.  
     
     
         10 . The lap tray of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible shell element includes an aperture for receiving the resilient foam rubber element, and a fastener for closing the aperture.  
     
     
         11 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the lap pillow is removably attached to the rigid base, with a hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         12 . The lap tray of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral lip includes a ledge for receiving and frictionally engaging the cover element.  
     
     
         13 . A lap tray for holding a plurality of eating utensils, or, alternatively, for providing a writing surface, the lap tray comprising: 
 a rigid base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral lip extending upwardly from the top surface;    a lap pillow adapted to be attached to the bottom surface of the rigid base, the lap pillow being adapted for supporting the lap tray on an uneven surface,    wherein the lap pillow includes a resilient, foam rubber element, and a flexible shell element, and wherein the flexible shell element includes an aperture for receiving the resilient foam rubber element, and a fastener for closing the aperture;    a hook and loop fastener for removably attaching the lap pillow to the rigid base;    a plurality of depressions in the top surface, the plurality of depressions being shaped to hold the plurality of eating utensils; and    a cover element shaped to be positioned over the top surface, on or within the perimeter lip, the cover element having a writing surface.