PORTABLE AND TRANSFERABLE LUGGAGE TRAY

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/670,265, filed on Jul. 12, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its complete entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a portable luggage tray operable for use on a luggage assembly to support one or more articles.

BACKGROUND

Oftentimes, travelers at an airport gate or terminal (or a rail platform for train travel) or sitting for long periods of waiting to board the aircraft. A luggage tray may be used in such instances for support on an upper region of a luggage assembly when the luggage assembly is in an upright, standing position on a support surface.

Contemporary luggage trays, however, have structural configurations that present challenges to users. For instance, some luggage trays are designed to have an overall size, overall weight, overall surface area, etc. that present challenges when stowing in a confined compartment for travel. Such designs also require many interconnected components that requires more time than may be necessary for assembly and disassembly. Such designs are limited by enabling the support of certain articles, such as laptop computing devices, but not others (beverages, etc.).

Luggage trays are often attached or otherwise coupled to vertical extensions of the luggage assembly in order to prevent the luggage tray from falling from the luggage assembly. Attachment in this manner, however, can compromise the structural integrity of the telescopic extensions by placing undesirable loads thereon that would cause bending.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a portable luggage tray that addresses and overcomes the aforestated challenges in contemporary luggage tray designs. The portable luggage tray is operable for placement on a luggage assembly, and particularly, on an upper region of the luggage assembly when the luggage assembly is in an upright, standing position on a support surface. The portable luggage tray is selectively coupled to a handle grip of the luggage assembly via a fastener. The portable luggage tray is multipurpose, and thus, may be used when space is limited to support a variety of different articles including, but not limited to, food, beverages, mobile electronic devices, totes, bags, etc. Such mobile electronic devices include, but are not limited to, laptop computers, smart phones, handheld personal computers, wearable electronic devices, smartwatches, smart eyewear, tablet computers, convertible tablet computers or any other electronic, microelectronic, or micro-electromechanical device.

In accordance with one implementation, a luggage system, comprises one or more of the following: a luggage assembly having a luggage body with a front side, a rear side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side that define an enclosed space, and a luggage handle member that is moveable relative to the luggage body between a stowed position in an interior compartment of the luggage body and a deployed position out of the compartment; and a portable luggage tray having a collapsible structural configuration including a pair of interconnected tray members for selective movement between in non-operating orientation for storage and an operating orientation for support on the luggage body to facilitate support of an article thereon.

In accordance with the luggage system, the tray members comprise a first tray member and a second tray member that serves as a base supported on the top side of the luggage body when the luggage body is in an upright standing position on a support surface.

In accordance with the luggage system, the first tray member comprises a coarse, rubberized matted surface that provides an increased surface area that generates more friction to stabilize or otherwise maintain support of articles on the portable luggage tray.

In accordance with the luggage system, the second tray member comprises a coarse, rubberized matted surface that provides an increased surface area that generates more friction to stabilize or otherwise maintain support of articles on the portable luggage tray.

In accordance with the luggage system, a top surface of the second tray member comprises a gripping support surface composed of a material that stabilizes or otherwise maintains the portable luggage tray on the luggage assembly.

In accordance with the luggage system, the gripping support surface comprises an anti-slip material or includes an anti-slip coating.

In accordance with the luggage system, the anti-slip material comprises a silicon-based material.

In accordance with the luggage system, the anti-slip material comprises a polymer-based material.

In accordance with the luggage system, the anti-slip material has a coefficient of friction that inhibits movement of the article by increasing an amount of friction between the gripping support surface and the article.

In accordance with the luggage system, a bottom surface of the second tray member comprises a plurality of foot members to facilitate the support of the portable luggage tray on the top side of the luggage body when the luggage body is in an upright standing position on a support surface.

In accordance with the luggage system, a pair of brace and hinge members are operable to couple the first tray member and the second tray member for selective movement about a hinge axis between the non-operating orientation and the operating orientation.

In accordance with the luggage system, in the operating orientation of the portable luggage tray, the first tray member and the second tray member are selectively movable about the hinge axis to an orientation of approximately 90 degrees relative to each other.

In accordance with the luggage system, the brace and hinge members comprise a first brace and hinge member and a second brace and hinge member.

In accordance with the luggage system, in the operating orientation of the portable luggage tray, the first brace and hinge member and the second brace and hinge member expand in surface area to contain the article when supported on the second tray member.

In accordance with the luggage system, in the operating orientation of the portable luggage tray, the first brace and hinge member and the second brace and hinge member expand in surface area to prevent the supported article from lateral movement from the second tray member.

In accordance with the luggage system, a fastener is arranged on a rear surface of the first tray member for releasable coupling to a handle grip of the handle member to maintain the portable luggage tray on the luggage body.

In accordance with the luggage system, the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener for selective coupling to the handle grip by encircling the handle grip.

In accordance with the luggage system, a beverage holder is arranged at a front surface of the first tray member to support a beverage container thereon.

In accordance with the luggage system, the beverage holder is operable to collapse in the non-operating orientation of the portable luggage tray.

In accordance with another implementation, a portable luggage tray includes one or more of the following: a first tray member; a second tray member supported on a luggage assembly when the luggage assembly is in an upright standing position on a support surface, the second tray member having a gripping support surface formed of an anti-slip material to maintain support of an article thereon; a pair of brace and hinge members to couple the first tray member and the second tray member for selective movement about a hinge axis between a non-operating orientation for storage and an operating orientation for support on the luggage assembly, wherein in the operating orientation, the brace and hinge members increase in surface area to prevent the article from lateral movement off the second tray member; a fastener arranged on a rear surface of the first tray member for releasable coupling to a handle grip of the handle member to maintain the portable luggage tray on the luggage body; and a beverage holder arranged at a front surface of the first tray member to support a beverage container thereon.

In accordance with another implementation, a portable luggage tray includes one or more of the following: a pair of interconnected tray members selectively moveable about a hinge axis between a non-operating orientation for storage and an operating orientation for support on a luggage assembly to facilitate support of an article thereon when the luggage assembly is in an upright standing position on a support surface; a pair of brace and hinge members to couple the first tray member and the second tray member for selective movement about a hinge axis between a non-operating orientation for storage and an operating orientation for support on the luggage assembly, wherein in the operating orientation, the brace and hinge members expand in surface area to prevent the article from lateral movement off the second tray member; a fastener arranged on a rear surface of the first tray member for releasable coupling to a handle grip of the handle member to maintain the portable luggage tray on the luggage body; and a beverage holder arranged at a front surface of the first tray member to support a beverage container thereon.

DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a portable luggage tray in an operating state on a luggage assembly, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the portable luggage tray of FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the portable luggage tray of FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a portable luggage tray in an operating state supporting a food tray and beverage container on a luggage assembly, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively illustrate a front, perspective view of the portable luggage tray of FIG. 4, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a portable luggage tray in an operating state supporting a mobile device (laptop computer) on a luggage assembly, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively illustrate a front, perspective view of the portable luggage tray of FIG. 7, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of a portable luggage tray in an operating state supporting two beverage containers, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the portable luggage tray in a folded, non-operating orientation.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative implementation of a second tray member, in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth and described herein.

DESCRIPTION

Herein below are example definitions that are provided only for illustrative purposes in this disclosure, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the one or more embodiments disclosed herein in any manner. Some terms are defined below for purposes of clarity. These terms are not rigidly restricted to these definitions. This disclosure contemplates that these terms and other terms may also be defined by their use in the context of this description.

The present disclosure provides a portable luggage tray that addresses and overcomes the aforestated challenges in contemporary luggage tray designs. The portable luggage tray is operable for placement on a luggage assembly, and particularly, on an upper region of the luggage assembly when the luggage assembly is in an upright, standing position on a support surface. The portable luggage tray is selectively coupled to a handle grip of the luggage assembly via a fastener. The portable luggage tray is multipurpose, and thus, may be used when space is limited to support a variety of different articles including, but not limited to, food, beverages, mobile electronic devices, etc. Such mobile electronic devices include, but are not limited to, laptop computers, smart phones, handheld personal computers, wearable electronic devices, smartwatches, smart eyewear, tablet computers, convertible tablet computers or any other electronic, microelectronic, or micro-electromechanical device.

In the illustrated example implementation of FIGS. 1 and 2, a luggage system 100 includes a portable luggage tray 110 for support on a luggage assembly 120.

The luggage assembly 120 includes a luggage body 121 having a front side, a rear side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side that define an enclosed space. The luggage assembly 120 further includes an adjustable and telescopically moveable handle member 122 that is moveable relative to the luggage body 121 between a stowed position in an interior compartment of the luggage body 121 and a deployed position in which it extends in a substantially vertical orientation from the compartment. The handle member 122 is formed by a pair of vertically oriented extension members 123 and a cross-member 124 extending between the extension members 123 to serve as a handle grip. Although the illustrated example implementation shows a wheeled luggage assembly 120 (e.g., to facilitate rolling by a user when in use), embodiments are not limited thereto. This disclosure contemplates the luggage assembly 120 having a variety of structural configurations, including, but not limited to unwheeled structural configurations.

The portable luggage tray 110 has a space-saving, collapsible bi-fold structural configuration comprising two tray members 111, 112 that are hingedly coupled for selective movement between a non-operating orientation (FIG. 11) for storage and an operating orientation (FIGS. 1-10 and 12) that facilitates support of a variety of articles (e.g., food trays, beverage containers, electronic mobile devices, etc.) thereon.

The tray members include a first tray member 111 and a second tray member 112 that serves as a base for support on the top side of the luggage body 121 when the luggage body 121 is in an upright standing orientation on a support surface. In the non-operating orientation, the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 are folded onto each other to reduce the overall size, surface area, or structural footprint of the portable luggage tray 110. In that way the portable luggage tray 110 may accommodate small compartments when not in use. In the operating orientation, one of the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 is rotated about 90 degrees or less to increase the overall size, area, or structural footprint of the portable luggage tray 110. The first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 may be formed having the same overall size or area.

One or both of the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 may be formed having a durable, lightweight material. Such a durable, lightweight material may comprise a coarse, rubberized matted surface. Embodiments, however, are not limited thereto, and thus, this disclosure contemplates the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 being formed of any suitable material or combination of materials that optimizes or otherwise transforms the performance and functionality of the one or more embodiments in a manner that falls within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure.

A top surface of the second tray member 112 may serve as a first gripping support surface 113 to facilitate the support of different articles (e.g., food trays, food, beverages, mobile electronic devices, etc.) thereon. The first gripping support surface 113 may be formed, in whole or in part, of an anti-slip material such as, for example, silicon. The anti-slip material should have a coefficient of friction that inhibits movement of the article(s) by increasing an amount of friction between the gripping support surface and the article(s). In this way, the article(s) are further anchored or otherwise maintained on the gripping support surface. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first gripping support surface 113 may support a food tray FT and beverages BC to facilitate use of the portable luggage tray 110 as a dining tray.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bottom surface of the second tray member 112 may serve as a second gripping support surface 114 to facilitate the support of the portable luggage tray 110 on the luggage body 121. Similarly to the first gripping support surface 113, the second gripping support surface 114 may be formed, in whole or in part, of an anti-slip material such as, for example, silicon. The anti-slip material should have a coefficient of friction that inhibits or otherwise minimizes movement of the portable luggage tray 110 on the luggage body 121 by increasing the magnitude of friction between the second ripping support surface 114 and the luggage body 121. In this way, the portable luggage tray 110 is further anchored or otherwise maintained on the luggage body 121, regardless of the type, size, weight, etc. of the article supported by the portable luggage tray 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, alternatively or additionally, the bottom surface of the second tray member 112 may have a plurality of foot members 115 extending therefrom to facilitate support of the portable luggage tray 110 on the luggage body 121. The foot members 115 may be arranged in an array comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns to maximize the magnitude of friction between the foot members 115 and the surface of the luggage body 121.

A pair brace and hinge members 130 including a first brace and hinge member 131 and a second brace and hinge member 132 are attached to the top surface or sidewall surface of the first tray member 111 and the top surface or sidewall surface of the second tray member 112 to facilitate selective movement of the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 about a hinge axis between the non-operating orientation and the operating orientation. The brace and hinge members 130 serve an additional function of containing the articles on the second tray member 112. In particular, the brace and hinge members 130 are formed of a flexible, open weave of mesh material that facilitates the capture of supported articles, and thereby prevent the supported articles from lateral (e.g., sliding) movement off the top surface of the second tray member 112.

In the non-operating orientation of the portable luggage tray 110, the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 are collapsed and folded upon each other, reducing the overall size of the portable luggage tray 10 to approximately 11.5 inches×15.0 inches. In that way, the portable luggage tray 110 is easily fit and stored inside a compartment (e.g., such as carry-on-sized luggage assembly).

In the operating orientation of the portable luggage tray 110, the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 are selectively movable to an orientation of approximately 90 degrees. In the operating orientation, the portable luggage tray 110 has a size of approximately 14.0 inches x 10.0 inches. Embodiments, however, are not limited thereto, and thus, this disclosure contemplates the portable luggage tray 110 having any suitable size that optimizes or otherwise transforms its performance and functionality in a manner that falls within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure.

The portable luggage tray 110, particularly, the rear surface of the first tray member 111 may abut or otherwise engage the extension members 123 of the handle member 122 of the luggage assembly 120. The portable luggage tray 110 is maintained on the luggage body 121 by a fastener 140. In particular, the fastener 140 is arranged on the rear surface of the first tray member 111 for releasable coupling to the handle member 122 to maintain the portable luggage tray 110 on the luggage body 121. In one implementation, the fastener 140 comprises a hook and loop fastener such as, for example, a Velcro™ strap that encircles the cross-member 124 (handle grip). By locating a coupling interface between the portable luggage tray 110 and the luggage body 121 at the handle grip, the portable luggage tray 110 avoids applying undue force that causes bending of the vertical extensions and thereby compromise the structural integrity of the telescopic extensions.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a front surface of the first tray member 111 may include one or more article holders defining a collapsible space that is operable to support one or more articles (e.g., beverages, writing instruments, edible food bars, boarding passes, etc.) therein in the non-operating orientation of the portable luggage tray 110. The one or more article holders may include a first article holder 116 and a second article holder 117 formed spaced apart. The first article holder 116 and the second article holder 117 may be formed or otherwise composed of a durable, lightweight, fabric material, and are operable to collapse in the non-operating orientation of the portable luggage tray 110. One example material comprises a mesh material. Embodiments, however, are not limited thereto. This disclosure contemplates forming the first article holder 116 and the second article holder 117 of any suitable material or combination of materials that optimizes or otherwise transforms the performance and functionality of the one or more embodiments in a manner that falls within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 and 10, to facilitate additional use of the portable luggage tray 110 as a dining tray, the first article holder 116 and the second article holder 117 may support one or more beverage containers BC.

Accordingly, the portable luggage tray 110 is advantageously formed of a size and materials that enables it to be stowed away in a confined compartment for travel. The portable luggage tray 110 also avoids the use of various interconnected components, thereby making it efficient for assembly and disassembly. Moreover, the portable luggage tray 110 has a multifunctional design that not only enables the support of articles such as laptop computing devices, but also food, beverages, food, beverages, totes, bags, etc. The use of multifunctional brace and hinge members not only facilitate selective movement of the first tray member 111 and the second tray member 112 between the non-operating orientation and the operating orientation, but also serve to contain the supported articles on the upper most surface of the portable luggage tray 110 should they laterally sliding off the surface of the second tray member 112.

The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electro-mechanical or other connections. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated. The terms “cause” or “causing” means to make, force, compel, direct, command, instruct, and/or enable an event or action to occur or at least be in a state where such event or action may occur, either in a direct or indirect manner.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this disclosure have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings and specification.