Adjustable tray for vehicle

Abstract

An assembly includes a tray portion and a base. The base supports the tray portion. The tray portion may move within a substantially horizontal plane in an infinite number of directions. The base portion allows for the vertical movement of the tray. The assembly may also include a locking mechanism capable of preventing movement of the tray in the horizontal plane when desired.

1 . An assembly including: 
 a base including a first member and a second member moveable relative to the first member;    a tray mounted to the base and moveable in a substantially horizontal plane in a plurality of directions; and    a locking mechanism connected to the tray including a handle and a locking member capable of preventing movement of the tray relative to the base.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a rubber member that engages the tray in order to prevent movement.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the tray further includes a support plate supporting a tray portion, the support plate being engaged by the rubber member to prevent movement of the tray.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the tray further includes a base plate connected to the tray portion and a member connecting the base plate to the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the base includes a motor assembly capable of creating movement of the first member relative to the second member.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the motor assembly includes a first member and a second member moveable relative to the first member, a motor, and a converter capable of converting rotational movement of the motor into translational movement of the second member relative to the first member.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the motor assembly further includes a base portion connected to a first end and a plate member connected to a second end.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the base includes a second motor assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tray includes a tray portion, a base plate supporting the tray portion, a plurality of rollers supporting the base plate, and a support tray supporting the plurality of rollers.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 9  further including a member connecting the base plate directly to the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . A tray assembly configured for use in a vehicle, the tray assembly including: 
 a tray including a first member, a second member moveable relative to the first member and a distance separating at least a portion of the first member from the second member;    a base supporting at least a portion of the tray; the base including a first member and a second member, moveable relative to the first member; and    a mechanism connected to at least one of the first member of the tray or the second member of the tray, the mechanism controlling the distance separating the members of the tray.    
   
   
       12 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the base is supported by a floor of the vehicle.  
   
   
       13 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the first member of the tray is moveable with respect to the second member of the tray in a plane arranged substantially parallel to at least a portion of floor.  
   
   
       14 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein a second distance separates at least a portion of the tray from the floor and movement of the first member of the base relative to the second member of the base results in a change in the second distance.  
   
   
       15 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 11  further including at least one roller assembly supporting the first member of the tray, the at least one roller assembly located in a fixed position relative to the second member of the tray.  
   
   
       16 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 15  wherein each of the at least one roller assembly includes at least one roller and a frame configured to receive the at least one roller.  
   
   
       17 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the frame of each of the at least one roller assembly is connected to the second member of the tray.  
   
   
       18 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 11  further including a stop member at least partially supported by the mechanism, the stop member configured to contact at least one of the first member of the tray or the second member of the tray as the distance decreases in magnitude in order to prevent movement of the first member relative to the second member of the tray.  
   
   
       19 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the mechanism is connected to the first member of the tray and the second member of the tray is at least partially located between the first member of the tray and the stop member.  
   
   
       20 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the mechanism further includes a member supporting the stop member.  
   
   
       21 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the second member of the tray is connected to the first member of the base.  
   
   
       22 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the second member of the tray includes an aperture and at least a portion of the mechanism extending through the aperture.  
   
   
       23 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the tray further includes a tray portion including a bottom and at least one side wall and the first member of the tray supports the tray portion.  
   
   
       24 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the base includes a means for moving the first member of the base relative to the second member of the base.  
   
   
       25 . A tray assembly including: 
 a tray including a first member, a second member, and at least one roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly supports the first member and is maintained in a fixed position relative to the second member, the first member of the tray moveable relative to the second member of the tray;    a base configured to support the tray; and    a locking device connected to the first member, the locking device being configured to prevent the movement of the first member of the tray relative to the second member of the tray.    
   
   
       26 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the second member of the tray is connected to the base.  
   
   
       27 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the base includes an extendable member including a first end and a second end, and a motor configured to cause the first end of the extendable member to move with respect to the second end of the extendable member.  
   
   
       28 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 27  wherein the base includes a first member and a second member and the first member of the base is connected to the second member of the tray.  
   
   
       29 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 28  wherein the first member of the base is connected to the first end of the extendable member and the second member is connected to the second end of the extendable member.  
   
   
       30 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 29  wherein the base further includes a second extendable member and a second motor.  
   
   
       31 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the locking device includes a first member and a second member, and the second member of the tray includes an aperture sized to allow at least a portion of the first member of the locking device to pass through but prevents at least a portion of the second member of the locking device from passing through.  
   
   
       32 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 31  wherein the first member of the locking device is connected to the first member of the tray.  
   
   
       33 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 32  wherein the second member of the locking device is formed at least in part from rubber.  
   
   
       34 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 33  wherein at least a portion of the second member of the locking device contacts at least a portion of the second member of the tray as the locking device prevents movement of the first member of the tray with respect to the second member of the tray.  
   
   
       35 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the base includes at least two support assemblies.  
   
   
       36 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 35  wherein each support assembly includes at least two support legs and a motor assembly.  
   
   
       37 . The tray assembly as set forth in  claim 36  wherein the second member of the tray has a substantially rectangular shape including four corners and the support legs of the base are connected to the second member near the corners of the second member.