Multi-purpose tray for inclined or level surfaces

Abstract

A tray assembly may be used in combination with inclined, stepped, level or variable level support surfacing. The tray assembly may be used in tandem with identical embodiments of the tray assembly for forming larger, linked tray assemblages. The tray assembly may comprise a plurality of legs, which are stowable in a primary tray structure when not being used to elevate the tray structure above a support surface. When used to elevate the primary tray structure above variable level support surfacing, the legs may each be adjusted relative to the primary tray structure for properly maintaining a horizontal tray configuration relative to the support surfacing. The tray support legs are removably receivable in the tray-receiving slots for stowage, and are removably receivable in leg-receiving apertures for supporting the primary tray structure in horizontal spaced relation relative to a support surface.

1 . A tray assembly, the tray assembly for use in combination with variable level support surfacing so as to provide a horizontal tray, the tray assembly comprising:
 a primary tray structure, the primary tray structure having an upper tray portion, a lower tray portion, opposed leg-receiving slots extending intermediate the upper and lower tray portions, and opposed leg-receiving apertures extending from the upper to lower tray portions; and   at least one pair of tray support legs, the tray support legs being removably receivable in the tray-receiving slots for stowage, and being removably receivable in the leg-receiving apertures for supporting the primary tray structure in horizontal spaced relation relative to a support surface.   
   
   
       2 . The tray assembly of  claim 1  wherein the leg-receiving apertures and tray support legs comprise means for selectively and orthogonally varying the position of the respective tray support legs relative to the respective leg-receiving apertures, said means for enhancing a user's ability to use the tray in combination with variable level surfacing. 
   
   
       3 . The tray assembly of  claim 2  wherein said means are cooperatively defined by aperture tabs formed within the leg-receiving apertures and tab-receiving grooves formed within the tray support legs, the aperture tabs being receivable in the tab-receiving grooves for adjusting the position of the tray support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       4 . The tray assembly of  claim 3  wherein the tab-receiving grooves comprise a vertical groove portion and a series of horizontal groove portions contiguous with the vertical groove portion, the vertical groove portion for enabling the user to orthogonally adjust the position of the respective tray support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures, the horizontal groove portions for enabling the user to orthogonally fix the position of the respective tray support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       5 . The tray assembly of  claim 4  wherein each leg-receiving apertures comprises opposed aperture tabs, and each tray support leg comprises and opposed set of tab-receiving grooves, the opposed aperture tabs and opposed sets of tab-receiving grooves for enhancing stability of the tray support legs as removably received in the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       6 . The tray assembly of  claim 5  comprising two pair of opposed leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       7 . The tray assembly of  claim 6  wherein the leg-receiving apertures are formed at four corners of the tray structure. 
   
   
       8 . The tray assembly of  claim 7  wherein the leg-receiving slots extend intermediate the opposed pairs of leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       9 . The tray assembly of  claim 8  comprising means for coupling a second tray structure to the primary tray structure, the second tray structure being identical to the primary tray structure. 
   
   
       10 . The tray assembly of  claim 1  wherein the primary tray structure is upendable such that the upper and lower tray portions may be interchangeably used as matter-supporting surfaces. 
   
   
       11 . A tray assembly, the tray assembly for use in combination with variable level support surfacing so as to provide a horizontal tray, the tray assembly comprising:
 a primary tray structure, the primary tray structure having an upper tray portion, a lower tray portion, and opposed leg-receiving apertures extending from the upper to lower tray portions; and   at least one pair of tray support legs, the tray support legs being removably and orthogonally receivable in the leg-receiving apertures for supporting the primary tray structure in horizontal spaced relation relative to a support surface.   
   
   
       12 . The tray assembly of  claim 11  wherein the leg-receiving apertures and tray support legs comprise means for selectively and orthogonally varying the position of the respective tray support legs relative to the respective leg-receiving apertures, said means for enhancing a user's ability to use the tray in combination with variable level surfacing. 
   
   
       13 . The tray assembly of  claim 12  wherein said means are cooperatively defined by aperture tabs formed within the leg-receiving apertures and tab-receiving grooves formed within the tray support legs, the aperture tabs being receivable in the tab-receiving grooves for adjusting the position of the tray support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       14 . The tray assembly of  claim 13  wherein the tab-receiving grooves comprise a vertical groove portion and a series of horizontal groove portions contiguous with the vertical groove portion, the vertical groove portion for enabling the user to orthogonally adjust the position of the respective tray support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures, the horizontal groove portions for enabling the user to orthogonally fix the position of the respective tray support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       15 . The tray assembly of  claim 13  wherein each leg-receiving aperture comprises opposed aperture tabs, and each tray support leg comprises opposed set of tab-receiving grooves, the opposed aperture tabs and opposed sets of tab-receiving grooves for enhancing stability of the tray support legs as removably received in the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       16 . The tray assembly of  claim 12  comprising means for coupling a second tray structure to the primary tray structure, the second tray structure being identical to the primary tray structure. 
   
   
       17 . The tray assembly of  claim 12  wherein the primary tray structure comprises leg-stowage means for selectively stowing the tray support legs. 
   
   
       18 . The tray assembly of  claim 11  wherein the primary tray structure is upendable such that the upper and lower tray portions may be interchangeably used as matter-supporting surfaces. 
   
   
       19 . A tray assembly, the tray assembly for use in combination with variable level support surfacing so as to provide a horizontal tray, the tray assembly comprising:
 a tray structure, the tray structure having upper and lower tray portions, and leg-receiving apertures axially and orthogonally extending from the upper to lower tray portions; and   a plurality of support legs, the support legs being coaxially receivable in the leg-receiving apertures for supporting the tray structure in horizontal spaced relation relative to a support surface.   
   
   
       20 . The tray assembly of  claim 19  wherein the leg-receiving apertures and support legs comprise means for selectively and orthogonally varying the position of the respective support legs relative to the respective leg-receiving apertures, said means for enhancing a user's ability to orient the tray in horizontal spaced relation relative to a support surface. 
   
   
       21 . The tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein said means are cooperatively defined by tabs and grooves, the tabs and grooves formed in first and second select structures, the select structures being respectively selected from the group consisting of the leg-receiving apertures and the support legs, the tabs being receivable in the grooves for adjusting the position of the support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       22 . The tray assembly of  claim 21  wherein the grooves comprise a vertical groove portion and a series of horizontal groove portions contiguous with the vertical groove portion, the vertical groove portion for enabling the user to orthogonally adjust the position of the respective support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures, the horizontal groove portions for enabling the user to orthogonally fix the position of the respective support legs relative to the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       23 . The tray assembly of  claim 22  wherein the select structures comprise opposed tabs and opposed grooves, the opposed tabs and grooves for enhancing stability of the support legs as removably received in the leg-receiving apertures. 
   
   
       24 . The tray assembly of  claim 19  wherein the tray structure is upendable such that the upper and lower tray portions may be interchangeably used as matter-supporting surfaces.