Support Structures and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to support structures, and in particular, to structures that can be used to support one or more objects. The structures can be used to support objects in a variety of positions and in a variety of manners. The structures can be used in different environments to easily store objects. In addition, the structures can be used to provide space convenience for travelers.

1 . A support structure configured for use with a tray, the support structure comprising:
 a body portion, the body portion being configured to support an item, the body portion being selectively disposable in a deployed configuration and in a collapsed configuration; and   a mounting portion, the mounting portion being coupled to the body portion, the mounting portion being configured to engage the tray when the body portion is in its deployed configuration so that the body portion is supported by the tray.   
   
   
       2 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion, the second portion and the third portion collectively defining a receptacle that is configured to receive a portion of the tray. 
   
   
       3 . The support structure of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion is configured to receive the tray in the receptacle, and the body portion is slidable onto the tray. 
   
   
       4 . The support structure of  claim 3 , wherein the tray has a stored position and a deployed position, the tray being retainable in its stored position by a locking mechanism, and one of the body portion and the mounting portion of the support structure includes an opening formed therein such that the locking mechanism can engage the tray. 
   
   
       5 . The support structure of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion includes a fourth portion, the fourth portion being coupled to the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion, the fourth portion defining an opening therein, the opening in the fourth portion being configured to permit access to the receptacle and to the tray when the tray is disposed in the receptacle. 
   
   
       6 . The support structure of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting portion includes a closure mechanism, and the closure mechanism is movable by a user to adjust the opening in the fourth portion. 
   
   
       7 . The support structure of  claim 5 , wherein the opening is configurable to allow a portion of the tray to pass therethrough. 
   
   
       8 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a first opening and a second opening, each of the first opening and the second opening being configured to receive a portion of the tray. 
   
   
       9 . The support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the body portion includes a rear panel and each of the first opening and the second opening is formed in the rear panel. 
   
   
       10 . The support structure of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first opening and the second opening is configured to receive a corner of the tray. 
   
   
       11 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a first side portion and a second side portion, the body portion includes a perimeter, the perimeter extending around the first side portion and the second side portion, the body portion being substantially planar in its deployed configuration, and the first side portion of the body portion being disposed proximate to the second side portion in the collapsed configuration such that a portion of the perimeter along the first side portion is proximate to a portion of the perimeter along the second side portion. 
   
   
       12 . The support structure of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism is disposed along a portion of the perimeter, the coupling mechanism being configured to retain the first side portion proximate to the second side portion.   
   
   
       13 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein in the collapsed configuration, the first side portion and the second side portion define a receptacle therebetween and an opening in communication with the receptacle, the body portion including a flap that is movable relative to the opening, the flap being configured to close the opening. 
   
   
       14 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a first connection point and a second connection point, the body portion has a strap coupled to the first connection point and to the second connection point, and the strap includes a receptacle coupled thereto. 
   
   
       15 . The support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism being attached to the body portion, the coupling mechanism being configured to retain the body portion in its collapsed configuration   
   
   
       16 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is configured to extend around a portion of the tray. 
   
   
       17 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member, the first elongate is coupled to the body portion, a second elongate member is coupled to the body portion, the first elongate member forms a loop, the second elongate member forms a loop, the first elongate member is configured to be wrapped around a first portion of the tray, and the second elongate member is configured to be wrapped around a second portion of the tray. 
   
   
       18 . The support structure of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the tray is a first corner and the second portion of the tray is a second corner. 
   
   
       19 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the body is a substantially planar layer of material. 
   
   
       20 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion has a first side and an opposite, second side, and the mounting portion extends along the body portion from the first side to the second side. 
   
   
       21 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a first mounting element and a second mounting element, the first mounting element is movably coupled to the body portion between an extended position and a retracted position, the second mounting element is movably coupled to the body portion being an extended position and a retracted position, the first mounting element in its extended position engages a portion of the tray, and the second mounting element in its extended position engages a portion of the tray. 
   
   
       22 . A reconfigurable support structure for use with a support, comprising:
 a body portion, the body portion being disposable in a deployed configuration and in a carrying configuration;   a support portion, the support portion being formed on the body portion, the support portion being configured to support an object, the support portion being exposed when the body portion is in its deployed configuration; and   a mounting mechanism, the mounting mechanism being defined by the body portion, the mounting mechanism being configured to engage the support to mount the body portion on the support.   
   
   
       23 . The reconfigurable support structure of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a cavity formed in the body portion, the cavity being configured to receive a portion of the support, the support portion being exposed to a user when the body portion is mounted on the support via the mounting mechanism. 
   
   
       24 . The reconfigurable support structure of  claim 23 , wherein the support is tray and the mounting mechanism is configured to receive a portion of the tray. 
   
   
       25 . The reconfigurable bag of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a first opening and a second opening, each of the first opening and the second opening being formed in the body portion and being configured to receive a portion of the support to mount the body portion on the support. 
   
   
       26 . The reconfigurable support structure of  claim 22 , wherein when the body portion is in the carrying configuration, the body portion is configured to form a receptacle and the support portion is disposed internally and defines the receptacle. 
   
   
       27 . The reconfigurable support structure of  claim 22 , wherein the body portion is a substantially planar layer of material. 
   
   
       28 . The reconfigurable support structure of  claim 22 , wherein the support portion is a pouch. 
   
   
       29 . A support structure for use with a support, the support structure comprising:
 a body portion, the body portion having a perimeter around an outer edge of the body portion, the body portion being a layer of material that is selectively disposable in a first configuration and in a second configuration, the body portion being configured to be coupled to the support in the first configuration, the first body portion being configured to be carried in the second configuration, the body portion having a support portion configured to support an object on the body portion; and   a mounting mechanism, the mounting mechanism being coupled to the body portion, the mounting mechanism being configured to couple the body portion to the support.   
   
   
       30 . The support structure of  claim 29 , wherein the body portion is substantially rectangular and includes a binding around the perimeter of the body portion. 
   
   
       31 . The support structure of  claim 30 , wherein the body portion has a front side and a rear side opposite the front side, the front side forming the support portion, the rear side being disposed proximate to the support when the body portion is coupled to the support. 
   
   
       32 . The support structure of  claim 29 , wherein the support is a tray, and the mounting mechanism is configured to receive a portion of the tray. 
   
   
       33 . A support structure for use with a tray, the support structure comprising:
 a body portion, the body portion consisting essentially of a layer of material and a support portion coupled to the layer of material, the body portion being selectively disposable in multiple configurations, the body portion being configured to be supported on the tray in one configuration and to be transported by a user in a different configuration, the support portion being configured to support an object on the body portion; and   a mounting portion, the mounting portion being coupled to the body portion and configured to secure the body portion to the tray.   
   
   
       34 . The support structure of  claim 33 , wherein the tray includes a front side and a rear side opposite to the front side, the layer of material is disposed proximate to the front side of the tray when the body portion is coupled to the tray, and the mounting portion is disposed proximate to the rear side of the tray when the body portion is coupled to the tray. 
   
   
       35 . The support structure of  claim 33 , wherein the layer of material is flexible. 
   
   
       36 . The support structure of  claim 33 , wherein the mounting component has a retracted position relative to the body portion and an extended position relative to the body portion, the mounting portion in its extended position being configured to secure the body portion to the tray. 
   
   
       37 . The support structure of  claim 33 , wherein the support portion defines a receptacle in which an object can be disposed. 
   
   
       38 . The support structure of  claim 33 , wherein the tray includes a first corner and a second corner, and the mounting portion is configured to receive the first corner of the tray and the second corner of the tray. 
   
   
       39 . The support structure of  claim 38 , wherein the mounting portion includes a first panel coupled to the body portion and a second panel coupled to the body portion, the first panel forming a first receptacle with the body portion to receive the first corner of the tray, and the second panel forming a second receptacle with the body portion to receive the second corner of the tray. 
   
   
       40 . The support structure of  claim 39 , wherein the mounting portion includes a sleeve coupled to the body portion, the sleeve forming a third receptacle with the body portion to receive a portion of the tray therethrough.