Side-mounted collapsible tray

Abstract

A collapsible tray for mounting on an apparatus sidewall. The collapsible tray includes a first plate member and a second plate member hingedly attached to the first plate member. The collapsible tray also includes a tray hingedly attached to the second plate member and is hingedly supported by the apparatus sidewall. The tray is lockable in a first position where the tray is substantially perpendicular to the sidewall of the apparatus and collapsible to a second position where the tray hangs downward and substantially parallel the apparatus sidewall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible tray for mounting on an apparatus sidewall, the collapsible tray comprising:
 a first plate member;   a second plate member hingedly attached to the first plate member; and   a tray hingedly attached to the second plate member and is hingedly supported by the apparatus sidewall, the tray lockable in a first position where the tray is substantially perpendicular to the sidewall of the apparatus and collapsible to a second position where the tray hangs downward and substantially parallel the apparatus sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible tray of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting apparatus that is securable to the apparatus sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible tray of  claim 2  wherein the mounting apparatus includes a channel that an engagement end of the first plate member engages when the tray of the collapsible tray is in the first or second position. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible tray of  claim 2  wherein the tray is hingedly attached to the mounting apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible tray of  claim 1  further comprising a flange portion that extends from the second plate member to engage an inside part of the first plate member when the tray is in the first position to prevent rotation between the first and second plate members from rotating past a predetermined position. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible tray of  claim 5  wherein the second plate element is hingely attached to an underside part of the tray at a hinged connection point. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible tray of  claim 6  wherein the hinged connection point is closer to the apparatus sidewall than a combination of a length of the second plate member and a length of the flange portion. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible tray of  claim 1  wherein an angle between an inner side of the first plate member and an inner side of the second plate member when the tray is in the first position is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible tray of  claim 8  wherein the angle between the inner side of the first plate member and the inner side of the second plate member when the tray is in the first position is between 135 degrees and 180 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible tray of  claim 1  further comprising a support plate that is hingedly supported by the sidewall apparatus to engage the first plate member. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible tray of  claim 3  further comprising a support plate that is hingedly supported by the sidewall apparatus to engage the first plate member. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible tray of  claim 11  wherein the support plate engages an outer side of the first plate member. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible tray of  claim 12  wherein the support plate is under rotational tension to force the support plate upwards and towards the apparatus sidewall to force the first plate member towards the apparatus sidewall when the tray is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible tray of  claim 13  wherein the support plate is hingedly attached to the apparatus sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible tray of  claim 13  wherein the support plate is hingedly attached to the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible tray of  claim 5  wherein the flange portion has a bend portion therein to contribute to structural integrity of the collapsible tray when the tray is in the first position. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible tray of  claim 16  wherein the bend portion of the flange portion is similar to an angle between inner sides of the first and second plate members.