AU2007219064B2 - Novelty tray and cushion - Google Patents

Description

1 NOVELTY TRAY AND CUSHION FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a multi-purpose cushion and in particular but not limited to a multi-purpose cushion assembly which may be utilised at 5 sporting events. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Many sporting events take place in a stadium, these include cricket, football, and rugby league and so on, and it is usual for those stadiums to comprise of tiered system of seating. Seating often employs a fixed backrest 10 and an automatically retractable seat. The retractable seat enables the passage of persons along a row of seats and then the seat is folded down so that the person can sit down on the seat. Due to the economies of space and cost, the seating and backrest are usually of a relatively rigid plastic and must also be robust enough to withstand the rigours of excited patrons at any 15 particular event. Consequently, the seats are made to last and therefore not made especially for comfort. In addition to this, leg room is limited and it is often difficult or inconvenient for a patron to access a seat in the middle of a row past those patrons who are already seated. Beverages are often sold at game venues 20 and there are limitations as to the number of cups or drink containers that a patron may carry back to his or her seat. The need to pass other patrons already seated can create a situation whereby drinks are accidentally spilt notwithstanding that trays may be provided at the game venue. Provision of 2 trays to carry drinks provides an additional cost burden to outlets at the venue. A search of the patent literature reveals prior art as follows: DE 29622696 describes a cushion for use at sporting events where the cushion 5 has a glove section so that it may be worn on the hand configured as an oversize hand. DE 202005011601 describes a flat cushion for use at sporting events, the cushion has a slot for the fingers and thumb holes so that it may be easily handled. DE 298 18 152 describes an inflatable cushion with a valve and six evenly spaced holes. DE 10 2004 029711 describes a 10 cushion and tray combination for use at sporting events having foam centre sandwiched between inflatable sides. While these arrangements provide a cushion and tray which may include advertising or other surface printing they are not compact and do not make any provision for storage or transport. AU 200071793 on the other 15 hand provides a convertible seat bag where a cushion is formed as part of a carry bag with handles and a lid and pockets. The above described prior art suffers from a number of disadvantages and accordingly it is an object of the present invention to alleviate these disadvantages at least to some degree by providing a tray to carry beverages 20 that also doubles as a cushion and which may be easily carried. Another object is to provide a tray to carry beverages that also doubles as a cushion which may be easily carried, stored and transported when not in use.

3 OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect there is provide a tray and cushion assembly comprising cushion material enabling the assembly to be utilised as a cushion upon which a patron may sit while watching a game or activity at a venue, the 5 assembly having an upside and an underside, the upside having a number of recesses being drink holders, each being adapted to hold a drink container in the assembly such that the cushion may also be utilised as a tray for the carriage of drinks held in the drink holders, the underside being absent drink holders so that the assembly may be placed upside down when used as a 10 cushion, the assembly having handle means enabling the tray to be safely carried, the handle means comprising first and second handles at opposite sides of the assembly and the drink holders having means to aid in holding a drink container. Preferably, the assembly comprises cushion material enabling the 15 assembly to be utilised as a cushion upon which a patron may sit while watching a game or activity at a venue, the assembly also comprising a number of recesses adapted to hold a drink container in the assembly such that the cushion may also be utilised as a tray for the carriage of drinks, the recesses comprising spaced apart cup holders distributed for balance. 20 Preferably, the assembly comprises cushion material enabling the assembly to be utilised as a cushion upon which a patron may sit while watching a game or activity at a venue, the assembly also comprising a number of recesses adapted to hold a drink container in the assembly such that the cushion may also be utilised as a tray for the carriage of drinks, the 4 recesses comprising spaced apart cup holders distributed for balance, the cup holders being able to positively hold a cup. Preferably, the assembly includes a handle positioned and a display so that the assembly may also be utilised as a sign held up by the patron to 5 celebrate a scoring result at a game. Preferably, the cushion may be utilised as a cushion to sit on, a tray to carry drinks and, additionally, as a device to be held up by the patron to indicate scoring activity, at least one of the handles being positioned so that the sign is automatically right way up when the cushion is held up by the 10 handle. Preferably, the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray. Preferably, the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up 15 deflated state in a container. Preferably, the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a container, the container being a cylinder. Preferably, the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by 20 the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a container, the container being configured as a promotional article, for example the container may be in the shape of a football, cricket ball, wheel and so on.

5 Preferably, the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a container, the container being in two parts being a base and cap coupled together. 5 Preferably, the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a container the container having a clasp and strap to enable it to be carried. In another aspect there is provided an inflatable tray assembly and 10 container for holding the deflated tray, the tray having spaced apart cup holders. The inflatable tray may have first and second handles at opposite sides of the tray. In this embodiment the container may be a cylinder. Preferably, in this embodiment the tray is packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container being configure as a promotional article, 15 for example the container may be in the shape of a football, cricket ball, wheel and so on. Preferably, in this embodiment the tray is packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container being in two parts being a base and cap coupled together. Preferably, in this embodiment the tray is packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container having a 20 clasp and strap to enable it to be carried. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the 6 accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective drawing illustrating application of the present invention as a tray; 5 Figure 2 illustrates use of the present invention as a seat and as a tray; Figure 3 is a plan view; Figure 4 is a section through 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an end view; Figures 6 and 7 illustrate use of the tray cushion as a sign; 10 Figure 8 illustrates modes by which the cushion may be carried; Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment; Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 illustrate further embodiments; Figures 14 to 17 are respective top, side, underside and end views illustrating an inflatable embodiment; and 15 Figures 18 to 21 are respective front, exploded side views and perspective (showing the parts separated) of packaging of the inflatable embodiment of Figures 14 to 17. METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is 20 illustrated a tray/cushion 10 shown located on a terrace seat 11 and a user 12 seated on a cushion 10 and also utilising a cushion 10 in its upside down position to carry drinks as a tray. As shown in Figure 1, a drink container 13 is positioned in a cup holder recess 14, four of which are shown in Figure 1.

7 Due to the relative size of the container 13, which would normally be a plastic cup and the slightly smaller diameter of the recess 14 and the resilient material from which the cushion 10 is made, the cup 13 is positively held by reason of the elasticity of the material from which the surrounding edges 15 of 5 the cup holder 14 is made. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1, handles 16 and 17 facilitate the carrying of the cushion 10 as a tray with either two hands or one handed as illustrated in Figure 1. Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the tray in greater detail and like numerals 10 have been used to illustrate like features. The depth of the cup holders 14 is variable depending upon the nature and configuration of the cup utilised. As can be seen in Figure 5, an alternative to the material comprising resilience or in combination therewith the cups may utilise a suitable taper at 18 so that at the peripheral rim portion 19 of the cup holders, that portion of the rim may be 15 the portion which is used to positively hold the cup in position as illustrated in Figure 5. Other combinations of features may be used to positively hold a cup. The cushion may be in any particular colour. It may typically be represented in the colours of the team being supported at the venue. 20 Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a further application of the cushion according to the present invention where it is configured as a sign in relation to the game of cricket. In Figure 6 the numeral 6 is shown on one side of the cushion and in Figure 7 the numeral 4 is shown on the opposite side. The numeral 6 represents a scoring shot in cricket whereby the batsman has 8 cleared the boundary thereby scoring six runs and in Figure 7 the numeral 4 is a scoring shot whereby the batsman has caused the cricket ball to reach the boundary, thus scoring four. Supporters may thereby stand and easily grasp the handle and immediately show the scoring shot and cheer that 5 result. It will be appreciated in Figure 6 and Figure 7 that the position of the handle results in the numeral 6 or the numeral 4 being the right way up. It will also be appreciated that the figures show opposite sides of the same cushion, with 4 on one side and 6 on the other. Figure 8 illustrates the convenient ways in which a cushion according 10 to the present invention may be carried to the venue for use at the venue. A more compact arrangement is also illustrated whereby in this case a cushion 20 is made in two halves, 21 and 22, with a hinge 23. It will be appreciated with the hinge position 23 as shown that the tray when moved to an open position will be self supported for the purpose of use as a tray due to the 15 hinged position. Thus in the configuration of Figure 9 the tray may be closed by use of a simple clip or perhaps even loop and pile fasteners on the inside surfaces at 24 and 25. There may be loop and pile fasteners on the surfaces 26 and 27 or other equivalent means to retain the cushion in its operative position as a tray. Cup holders 28 and 29 in this embodiment are on the 20 outside but may equally be on the inside. As further illustrated in Figure 9, the cup holders may utilise any frictional means to positively hold a cup in place. In the illustrated embodiment a serrated arrangement at 30 is illustrated.

9 Subject to the material employed for the construction of the cushion it may be desirable to include an insert or the like to provide additional support for the tray aspect and this is illustrated generally by the dotted line at 31 in Figure 8. 5 The cushion according to the present invention may be in any suitable shape that enables it to be utilised as a cushion and tray. It may be circular or oval as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12 or it may be in a general form of a country as illustrated in Figure 11 where it comprises the United States or in Figure 13 where it comprises Australia. 10 Referring now to Figures 14 to 17 there is illustrated an inflatable tray 50 which may also be used as a cushion, the tray is basically the same shape as the previous embodiment including four drink holders 51 which are pleated to aid in the holding of drink container and two handles 52 that extend right through the tray. The tray may include other features including a dished 15 central section at 53 so that it may be used to serve snacks or carry other items in the middle between the drinks. In order that the inflatable tray may be carried while deflated it is preferable that it be put in a container 54 of the type illustrated in Figures 18 to 21. As best seen in Figure 21 the tray is rolled up and in it's rolled up 20 state projects from the base 55 but may be covered by screwing the cap 56 onto the base. A clasp 57 is secured to the cap. As can be seen the packaging may be carry the theme of the event, in this case a motor racing event, where a wheel shape having corresponding pattern and ornamentation is employed.

10 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. 5

Claims (20)

1. A tray and cushion assembly comprising cushion material enabling the assembly to be utilised as a cushion upon which a patron may sit while watching a game or activity at a venue, the assembly having an upside and 5 an underside, the upside having a number of recesses being drink holders, each being adapted to hold a drink container in the assembly such that the cushion may also be utilised as a tray for the carriage of drinks held in the drink holders, the underside being absent drink holders so that the assembly may be placed upside down when used as a cushion, the assembly having 10 handle means enabling the tray to be safely carried, the handle means comprising first and second handles at opposite sides of the assembly and the drink holders having means to aid in holding a drink container.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 having drink holders comprising four spaced apart drink holders distributed for balance. 15

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the means to aid in the holding a drink container comprises pleated drink holders.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of said handles is an elongate hole and the assembly includes a display, the handle facilitating the assembly being utilised as a sign held up by the 20 patron to celebrate a scoring result at a game.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly may be utilised as a cushion to sit on, a tray to carry drinks and, additionally, as a device to be held up by the patron to indicate scoring activity at a game by a sign displayed on the assembly, the sign having a right way 12 up, at least one of the handles being positioned so that the sign is automatically right way up when the cushion is held up by the at least one handle, the assembly being inflatable and when inflated being generally rectangular with rounded ends and having said handles just inboard of each 5 of the rounded ends.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray when inflated having spaced cup holders extending from one side of the assembly and being discernable through the underside 10 of the assembly.

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the assembly further comprising a container and the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the assembly 15 when inflated being generally rectangular with rounded ends and having said handles just inboard of each of the rounded ends.

8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a 20 container, the container being a cylinder and the tray being rolled up in a spiral within the container.

9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a 13 container, the container being configured as a promotional article in the shape of a ball.

10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the user blowing into a 5 valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a container, the container being in two parts being a base and cap coupled together.

11. An assembly according to according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray which may be inflated by the 10 user blowing into a valve in the tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in a container the container having a clasp and strap to enable it to be carried around the neck of the patron.

12. An inflatable tray assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and a container for holding the deflated tray, the tray when inflated 15 having spaced cup holders extending from one side of the assembly and being discernable through the underside of the assembly.

13. An inflatable tray assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inflatable tray, when inflated is generally rectangular with rounded ends and has first and second handles at opposite sides of the 20 assembly as elongate holes extending through the assembly.

14. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is an inflatable tray, the tray being packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container comprising a cap and a base, the base holding the deflated tray in the base. 14

15. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is a cylinder in two parts, a base and a cap, the deflated tray being wound in a spiral and located partially within the base when the cap is removed so as to project from the base. 5

16. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tray is packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container being configured as a promotional article having a shape related to an activity being promoted.

17. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 10 tray is packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container being in two parts being a base and cap coupled together with the tray between them, the base and cap having overlaying sidewalls when the cap is placed over the base.

18. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 15 tray is packaged in a rolled up deflated state in the container, the container having a clasp and strap to enable it to be carried around the neck of a wearer as a generally cylindrical body with flat ends and a side wall, the clasp being positioned on the side wall of the container.

19. A tray and cushion assembly substantially as described with reference 20 to any one of Figures 1-17 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A tray and cushion assembly and a container substantially as described with reference to Figures 18-21 of the accompanying drawings.