Utility Tray

Abstract

The tray has a horizontal base and an edge. A C-clamp has a horizontally oriented side coupled to a bottom surface of the base, normal to and adjacent the edge. The C-clamp has first and second vertically oriented sides extending downward. The second vertically oriented side has a threaded hole. A screw has a shaft, a handle at a first end, and a shoe at a second end of the shaft. The second end of the screw passes through the threaded hole of the second vertically oriented side of the C-clamp and extends horizontally toward the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp. Moving the handle causes the second end of the screw to further extend horizontally toward the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp such that the shoe and the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp frictionally engage the support structure when positioned therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tray, capable of being frictionally engaged to a support structure, the tray comprising:
 a planar base extending in a horizontal plane and having an edge;   a C-clamp coupled to a bottom surface of the planar base, comprising:
 a horizontally oriented side, a first portion of which abuts the bottom surface of the planar base, a second portion of which extends further in the horizontal plane from the edge of the base; 
 a first vertically oriented side meeting the second portion of the horizontally oriented side at a first corner of the C-clamp and extending downward; and 
 a second vertically oriented side meeting, under the bottom surface of the planar base, the first portion of the horizontally oriented side at a second corner of the C-clamp and extending downward, the second vertically oriented side positioned a horizontal distance from the edge of the base and opposite the first vertically oriented side sufficient to receive the support structure positioned therebetween, the second vertically oriented side comprising a threaded hole; and 
   a screw comprising a handle at a first end of the screw and a shoe at a second end of the screw, the second end of the screw passing through the threaded hole of the second vertically oriented side of the C-clamp and extending horizontally toward the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp, wherein movement of the handle causes the second end of the screw to further extend horizontally toward the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp such that the shoe and the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp frictionally engage the support structure when the support structure is positioned between the first and second vertically oriented sides of the C-clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises a threaded fixing positioned along the first portion of the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp via which to couple the C-clamp to the bottom surface of the planar base. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp comprises a hole positioned along the first portion of the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp through which the threaded fixing passes to couple the C-clamp to the bottom surface of the planar base. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein the threaded fixing comprises a bolt with external male threads that passes through the hole positioned along the first portion of the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp to mate with a nut with internal female threads embedded at the bottom surface of the planar base to couple the C-clamp to the bottom surface of the planar base. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp comprises a plurality of holes positioned along the first portion of the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp, wherein the threaded fixing passes through any one of the plurality of holes of the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp to couple the C-clamp to the bottom surface of the planar base. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the planar base comprises a plurality of channels each oriented normal to and adjacent the edge and sized to receive at least the first portion of the horizontally oriented side of the C-clamp where it abuts the bottom surface of the planar base. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp comprises a threaded hole, the tray further comprising a second screw comprising a handle at a first end of the second screw and a shoe at a second end of the second screw, the second end of the second screw passing through the threaded hole of the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp and extending horizontally toward the second vertically oriented side of the C-clamp, wherein movement of the handle of the second screw causes the second end of the second screw to further extend horizontally toward the second vertically oriented side of the C-clamp such that the shoes of the respective first and second screws frictionally engage the support structure when the support structure is positioned between the first and second vertically oriented sides of the C-clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 7 , wherein the threaded hole in the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp comprises a slot and a clip slidably engaged with the slot, wherein the second screw passing through the threaded hole of the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp comprises the second screw passing through the slot. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein the second screw comprises an externally threaded second screw, and wherein the clip comprises an internally threaded flange, wherein the second screw passing through the threaded hole of the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp comprises the externally threaded second screw passing through the internally threaded flange of the slot.