Arm trays for chairs, including spa chairs

Abstract

Arm trays for chairs, including spa chairs, and spa chairs having such arm trays. The arm trays The arm trays are mounted to, and stowable completely within, the arm of the chair. The arm trays comprise a tray panel rotatably attachable to an arm of a chair via an axle. The arm tray is configured such that an outer perimeter fits substantially entirely within a horizontal slot of the arm of the chair, and such that the first tray panel is rotatable between a stowed position in which the first tray panel is positioned substantially entirely within the horizontal slot and a deployed position in which at least a portion of the first tray panel is outside of the horizontal slot such that items can be placed on the top surface of the first tray panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arm tray for a chair, comprising:
 a first tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top surface and an outer perimeter;   an axle having an axis of rotation, the axle disposed on the first tray panel proximate the first end of the first tray panel such that the first tray panel is rotatable about the axis of rotation, the axle configured to be attached to an arm of a chair such that the axis of rotation is substantially vertical and the first tray panel is rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of rotation;   wherein the first tray panel is configured such that the outer perimeter fits substantially entirely within a horizontal slot of the arm of the chair, and such that the first tray panel is rotatable between a stowed position in which the first tray panel is positioned substantially entirely within the horizontal slot and a deployed position in which at least a portion of the first tray panel is outside of the horizontal slot such that items can be placed on the top surface of the first tray panel.   
     
     
         2 . The arm tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first tray panel is configured to allow 360 degrees of rotation about the axis of rotation such that the first tray panel can be rotated about the axis of rotation clockwise from the stowed position to a first deployed position at an inner side of the arm of the chair, further clockwise to a second deployed position extending forward of the arm of the chair, further clockwise to a third deployed position at an outer side of the arm of the chair, and further clockwise back to the stowed position. 
     
     
         3 . The arm tray of  claim 2 , further comprising a second tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top surface and an outer perimeter, wherein the second side of the second tray panel is hingedly coupled to the first side of the first tray panel by a hinge, and wherein the second tray panel is pivotable about the hinge relative to the first tray panel from a stacked position in which the second tray panel rests on top of the first tray panel and an open position in which the second tray panel is adjacent and co-planar to the first tray panel. 
     
     
         4 . The arm tray of  claim 3 , wherein when the first tray panel is deployed to an inner side of the arm of the chair such that the first tray panel extends inwardly over a seat of the chair, the first side of the first tray panel faces forward, and the second side of the second tray panel is pivotally coupled to the first side of the first tray panel such that when the second tray panel is in the open position the second tray panel extends forward of the first tray panel. 
     
     
         5 . The arm tray of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top surface and an outer perimeter, the second tray panel pivotally connected to the first tray panel such that the second tray panel can be pivoted between a closed position in which the second tray panel is stacked onto the top surface of the first tray panel and an open position in which the second tray panel is positioned adjacent the first tray panel such that the top surface of the second tray panel and the top surface of the first tray panel are substantially co-planar.   
     
     
         6 . The arm tray of  claim 5 , wherein when the first tray panel is deployed to an inner side of the arm of the chair such that the first tray panel extends inwardly over a seat of the chair, the first side of the first tray panel faces forward, and the second side of the second tray panel is pivotally coupled to the first side of the first tray panel such that when the second tray panel is in the open position the second tray panel extends forward of the first tray panel. 
     
     
         7 . A chair, comprising:
 a seat for a person to sit upon, the seat having a front side, a back side, a left side and a right side;   a first arm extending upward to the outside of one of the left side of the seat or the right side of the seat, the first arm having a horizontal slot open on an inner side of the first arm and on an outer side of the first arm;   a first arm tray, comprising:
 a first tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top surface and an outer perimeter; and 
   an axle having an axis of rotation, the axle disposed on the first tray panel proximate the first end of the first tray panel such that the first tray panel is rotatable about the axis of rotation;   wherein the first tray panel is rotatably mounted within the horizontal slot via the axle being attached to the first arm such that the axis of rotation is substantially vertical and the first tray panel is rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of rotation, wherein the outer perimeter of the first tray panel fits substantially entirely within the horizontal slot of the first arm of the chair, and the first tray panel is rotatable between a stowed position entirely within the horizontal slot and a deployed position at least partially outside of the horizontal slot such that items can be placed on the top surface of the first tray panel.   
     
     
         8 . The chair or  claim 7 , wherein the first tray panel is configured to allow 360 degrees of rotation about the axis of rotation such that the first tray panel can be rotated about the axis of rotation clockwise from the stowed position to a first deployed position at an inner side of the first arm of the chair, further clockwise to a second deployed position extending forward of the first arm of the chair, further clockwise to a third deployed position at an outer side of the first arm of the chair, and further clockwise back to the stowed position. 
     
     
         9 . The chair of  claim 8 , further comprising a second tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top surface and an outer perimeter, wherein the second side of the second tray panel is hingedly coupled to the first side of the first tray panel by a hinge, and wherein the second tray panel is pivotable about the hinge relative to the first tray panel from a closed position in which the second tray panel rests on top of the first tray panel and an open position in which the second tray panel is adjacent and co-planar to the first tray panel. 
     
     
         10 . The chair of  claim 9 , wherein when the first tray panel is deployed to an inner side of the first arm of the chair such that the first tray panel extends inwardly over a seat of the chair, the first side of the first tray panel faces forward, and the second side of the second tray panel is pivotally coupled to the first side of the first tray panel such that when the second tray panel is in the open position the second tray panel extends forward of the first tray panel. 
     
     
         11 . The chair of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top surface and an outer perimeter, the second tray panel pivotally connected to the first tray panel such that the second tray panel can be pivoted between a closed position in which the second tray panel is stacked onto the top surface of the first tray panel and an open position in which the second tray panel is positioned adjacent the first tray panel such that the top surface of the second tray panel and the top surface of the first tray panel are substantially co-planar.   
     
     
         12 . The chair of  claim 11 , wherein when the first tray panel is deployed to an inner side of the first arm of the chair such that the first tray panel extends inwardly over a seat of the chair, the first side of the first tray panel faces forward, and the second side of the second tray panel is pivotally coupled to the first side of the first tray panel such that when the second tray panel is in the open position the second tray panel extends forward of the first tray panel. 
     
     
         13 . The chair of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second arm extending upward to the outside of the other of the left side of the seat or the right side of the seat, the second arm having a horizontal slot open on an inner side of the second arm and on an outer side of the second arm;   a second arm tray, comprising:
 a first tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the first tray panel, a first side, a second side opposite the first side of the first tray panel, a top surface and an outer perimeter; and 
 an axle having an axis of rotation, the axle of the second arm tray disposed on the first tray panel of the second arm tray proximate the first end of the first tray panel of the second arm tray such that the first tray panel of the second arm tray is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the axle of the second arm tray; 
   wherein the first tray panel of the second arm tray is rotatably mounted within the horizontal slot of the second arm via the axle of the second arm tray being attached to the second arm such that the axis of rotation of the axle of the second arm tray is substantially vertical and the first tray panel of the second arm tray is rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of rotation of the axle of the second arm tray, wherein the outer perimeter of the first tray panel of the second arm tray fits substantially entirely within the horizontal slot of the second arm of the chair, and the first tray panel of the second arm tray is rotatable between a stowed position entirely within the horizontal slot of the second arm and a deployed position at least partially outside of the horizontal slot of the second arm such that items can be placed on the top surface of the first tray panel of the second arm tray.   
     
     
         14 . The chair of  claim 13 , wherein the first tray panel of the second arm tray is configured to allow 360 degrees of rotation about the axis of rotation of the axle of the second arm tray such that the first tray panel of the second arm tray can be rotated clockwise about the axis of rotation of the axle of the second arm tray from the stowed position to a first deployed position at an inner side of the second arm of the chair, further clockwise to a second deployed position extending forward of the second arm of the chair, further clockwise to a third deployed position at an outer side of the second arm of the chair, and further clockwise back to the stowed position. 
     
     
         15 . The chair of  claim 13 , wherein the second arm tray further comprises a second tray panel, the second tray panel of the second arm tray having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the second arm tray of the second tray panel, a first side, a second side opposite the first side of the second arm tray of the second tray panel, a top surface and an outer perimeter, wherein the second side of the second tray panel of the second arm tray is hingedly coupled to the first side of the first tray panel of the second arm tray by a hinge, and wherein the second tray panel of the second arm tray is pivotable about the hinge of the second arm tray relative to the first tray panel of the second arm tray from a closed position in which the second tray panel of the second arm tray rests on top of the first tray panel of the second arm tray and an open position in which the second tray panel of the second arm tray is adjacent and co-planar to the first tray panel of the second arm tray. 
     
     
         16 . The chair of  claim 15 , wherein when the first tray panel of the second arm tray is deployed to an inner side of the second arm of the chair such that the first tray panel of the second arm tray extends inwardly over the seat of the chair, the first side of the first tray panel of the second arm tray faces forward, and the second side of the second tray panel of the second arm tray is pivotally coupled to the first side of the first tray panel of the second arm tray such that when the second tray panel of the second arm tray is in the open position the second tray panel of the second arm tray extends forward of the first tray panel of the second arm tray. 
     
     
         17 . The chair of  claim 13 , wherein the second arm tray further comprises a second tray panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the second tray panel of the second arm tray, a first side, a second side opposite the first side of the second tray panel of the second arm tray, a top surface and an outer perimeter, the second tray panel of the second arm tray pivotally connected to the first tray panel of the second arm tray such that the second tray panel of the second arm tray can be pivoted between a closed position in which the second tray panel of the second arm tray is stacked onto the top surface of the first tray panel of the second arm tray and an open position in which the second tray panel of the second arm tray is positioned adjacent the first tray panel of the second arm tray such that the top surface of the second tray panel of the second arm tray and the top surface of the first tray panel of the second arm tray are substantially co-planar. 
     
     
         18 . The chair of  claim 17 , wherein when the first tray panel of the second arm tray is deployed to an inner side of the second arm of the chair such that the first tray panel of the second arm tray extends inwardly over the seat of the chair, the first side of the first tray panel of the second arm tray faces forward, and wherein the second side of the second tray panel of the second arm tray is pivotally coupled to the first side of the first tray panel of the second arm tray such that when the second tray panel of the second arm tray is in the open position the second tray panel of the second arm tray extends forward of the first tray panel of the second arm tray. 
     
     
         19 . The chair of  claim 7 , wherein the chair is a salon spa chair, and the chair further comprises:
 a base upon which the chair is mounted, the base configured for resting on a support surface; and   a foot spa basin mounted on the base and positioned forwardly and below the seat of the chair.   
     
     
         20 . The chair of  claim 13 , wherein the chair is a salon spa chair, and the chair further comprises:
 a base upon which the chair is mounted, the base configured for resting on a support surface; and   a foot spa basin mounted on the base and positioned forwardly and below the seat of the chair.