Portable food holder for stadium seating

Abstract

A portable folding tray and carrying case, wherein the folding tray may be supported from the upright back portion of a first seat and the carrying case can form seat cushions for a second seat located behind the first seat. The folding tray includes a back panel hinged to a tray panel so that they can be pivoted between a tray-open configuration in which the tray panel is horizontal so as to be suitable for supporting various articles, including food and drink. In a tray-closed configuration, in which the back and tray portions are pivoted next to each other, the tray is easy to transport between the cushions of the carrying case. The two cushioned panels of the carrying case are pivotally connected to one another and in an open configuration the panels are adapted to be placed on the second seat as a cushion.

1 . A portable folding tray, comprising: 
 a back panel;    a tray panel having an opening extending through the tray panel,    a hinge device pivotally connecting the tray panel to the back panel, said hinge device allowing the tray panel to be pivoted between a tray-open configuration with the tray panel substantially horizontal, and a tray-closed configuration with the tray panel along side the back panel;    a flexible member connected to the tray panel, the flexible member being extendable to form a cavity that is accessible through the opening for receiving an article passed through the opening, the flexible member being collapsible; and    a connector for removably attaching the folding tray to an upright back portion of a seat so that the folding tray is supported thereon.    
   
   
       2 . The folding tray of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes two hook members connected to the back panel for engaging an edge portion of the upright back portion of the seat.  
   
   
       3 . The folding tray of  claim 1 , wherein the back panel further includes a storage pocket.  
   
   
       4 . The folding tray of  claim 3 , wherein the storage pocket further includes flexible sidewalls for permitting the volume occupied by the storage pocket to be varied.  
   
   
       5 . The folding tray of  claim 3 , wherein the storage pocket further includes a zipper for closing the storage pocket.  
   
   
       6 . A portable folding tray and carrying case, comprising: 
 a folding tray, that includes: 
 a back panel;  
 a tray panel pivotally connected to the back panel so that the tray panel may be pivoted between a tray-open configuration with the tray panel substantially horizontal, and a tray-closed configuration with the tray panel along side the back panel;  
 a connector for removably attaching the folding tray to an upright back portion of a first seat so that the folding tray is supported; and  
   a carrying case which receives the folding tray when not in use, that includes: 
 two cushioned case panels pivotally connected to one another so that the case panels may be pivoted between a closed configuration, wherein the two case panels are substantially parallel to each other and the folding tray in the tray-closed configuration can be interposed between the two case panels, and an open configuration, wherein the case panels are adapted to be disposed as bottom and back cushions on a second seat.  
   
   
   
       7 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the tray panel has an opening extending through the tray panel; and    a flexible member connected to the tray panel, the flexible member being extendable to form a cavity that is accessible through the opening for receiving an article passed through the opening, the flexible member being collapsible.    
   
   
       8 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 6 , wherein the connector includes two hook members attached to the back panel and adapted to engage an edge portion of the upright back portion of the seat.  
   
   
       9 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 6 , wherein the back panel of the folding tray further includes a storage pocket.  
   
   
       10 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 9 , wherein the storage pocket further includes collapsible sidewalls for permitting the volume occupied by the storage pocket to be varied.  
   
   
       11 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a first handle connected to one of the two cushioned panels of the carrying case.    
   
   
       12 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second handle connected to the folding tray, the first and second handles being aligned with each other while the folding tray is interposed between the two cushioned case panels of the carrying case.    
   
   
       13 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a third handle connected to the other of the two cushioned panels of the carrying case, wherein the first, second, and third handles are aligned with each other while the folding tray is interposed between the two padded panels of the carrying case.    
   
   
       14 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a fourth handle connected to the folding tray, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth handles are aligned with each other while the folding tray is interposed between the two padded panels of the carrying case.    
   
   
       15 . The folding tray and carrying case of  claim 6 , wherein the connector is further adapted to engage the carrying case.  
   
   
       16 . A portable folding tray, comprising: 
 a back panel;    a tray panel pivotally connected to the back panel so that the tray panel may be pivoted between a tray-open configuration with the tray panel substantially horizontal, and a tray-closed configuration with the tray panel along side the back panel;    a cord having two ends, one end being connected to the tray panel;    a channel through which the cord is disposed, said channel imparting a force on the cord such that the cord can be translated through the channel, said force being sufficient to maintain the tray panel in the tray-closed configuration; and    a connector for removably attaching the folding tray to an upright back portion of a seat so that the folding tray is supported thereon.    
   
   
       17 . The folding tray of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a handle connected to the end of the cord not connected to the tray panel.    
   
   
       18 . The folding tray of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a stopper connected to the cord, the stopper being sized to prevent the cord from passing through the channel.    
   
   
       19 . A portable folding tray, comprising: 
 a back panel;    a tray panel having an opening extending through the tray panel,    a shutter device supported by the tray panel, said shutter device being moveable to open and close said opening;    a hinge device pivotally connecting the tray panel to the back panel, said hinge device allowing the tray panel to be pivoted between a tray-open configuration with the tray panel substantially horizontal, and a tray-closed configuration with the tray panel along side the back panel; and    a connector for removably attaching the folding tray to an upright back portion of a seat so that the folding tray is supported thereon.