GB2155776A - Support apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A support apparatus for use in the lap of a seated user includes a tray 1 and two locating members 3 and 4 arranged with the apparatus positioned on the lap of a user to extend downwardly either side of the legs of the user. The locating members 3 and 4 each have a mounting sleeve (14) slidable laterally of the user's legs on a cross member 2, the locating members being lockable against lateral movement under force applied thereto by the legs of the user due to friction resulting from tilting each sleeve (14) relative to the cross member 2. The locating members 3 and 4 may be pivotable between a downwardly extending position and a storage position at right angles to the downwardly extending position. Members 3 and 4 may also be adjustable in length. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support apparatus This invention relates to support apparatus for use on the lap of a seated user, such apparatus having a support surface such as for example, a tray, work surface or book rest.

It has been proposed in the past to provide trays having a bean bag attached to their underneath surface so that the bean bag shapes itself to the user's lap. However, this arrangement has the disadvantage that the bean bag being deformable does not locate or support the tray in a predictable and stable manner. Furthermore the combination of bean bag and tray is bulky and awkward to store.

Trays for use on aircraft are known having side projections which engage with the arm-rests of the aircraft seat so as to secure the tray relative to the passenger. However, such trays are only suitable for use with a specially adapted chair or seat.

According to the present invention there is provided a support apparatus for use on the lap of a seated user, said apparatus providing a support surface, and two locating members arranged with said apparatus positioned on the lap of a user to extend downwardly either side of the legs of the user, at least one of said locating members being movable laterally of the user's legs to a position such that the members embrace the user's legs, and means for locking the movable member or members against lateral movement under force applied by the legs of the user to said movable member(s) whereby said locating members serve to locate the support apparatus relative to the user's legs.

Thus with apparatus according to the invention, the user may position the apparatus on the lap with the knees together and the locating members on either side of the legs, and then move at least one of the elements inwardly so that the members embrace the legs. When the legs are relaxed they automatically apply an outward force to the locating members, but since outward lateral movement is prevented the support apparatus is firmly held in position.

Whilst it is envisaged that only one of said locating members may be laterally movable, it is preferred that both locating members are laterally movable.

The movable locating members may be movably mounted in various ways. They may, for example, be arranged to swing on pivoted arms towards and away from the user's legs. Preferably however the or each member is slidably mounted as, for example, bythe provison of mounting sleeves which slidably engage a cross member of the apparatus which lies, in use, generally transversely of the user's legs.

The means for locking the locating member(s) may take various forms. Thus positive mechanical locking arrangements may be provided such as spring catches, pawl and ratchet mechanisms and the like which will preferably freely allow movement of the or each locating member towards the legs but which require manual release for movement in the opposite direction.

For simplicity however friction locking means is preferred. Again the arrangement is preferably such that movement towards the legs is unrestrained and movement in the opposite direction may then require manual operation of a release mechanism e.g. withdrawal of a biassed brake pad or the like.

In a preferred embodiment the locking means is such that locking action is induced only by outward force on the locating member, as by the legs, which tends to pivot or tilt the locating member about its mounting. If then the user pulls the legs together to remove the pivoting force exerted thereby on the locating member, the locating member can then freely be removed away from the legs. The locking action in such an arrangement can be a positive mechanical locking action or as is preferred a friction locking action. Thus with a mounting sleeve for the locating member sliding on a support, selection of an appropriate length of sleeve, clearance between sleeve and support and materials of sleeve and support, a slight tilting movement of the sleeve relative to the support can result in the locking of the sleeve against sliding movement on the support.

Although the locating members may be fixed in a downwardly extending position, they are preferably adapted to be pivotable between said downwardly extending position and a storage position generally at right angles to send downwardly extending position. When the or each locating member includes a mounting sleeve engaging a crossmember for sliding movement thereon, a pivotal mounting may be provided by the member and sleeve being of circular cross-section. In such an arrangement the sleeve, and hence the locating member, is laterally movable and is pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of lateral movement.

For simplicity, the locating members embrace the user's legs and need make no supporting contact with the seat. However, it is envisaged that the locating members may rest on the seat partially to support the apparatus on the lap of the seated user, and in these circumstances the locating members may be telescopically adjustable in length so as to enable adjustment of the attitude of the support apparatus in relation to the lap of the user.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows apparatus according to the invention viewed in perspective from above; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the apparatus; Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the apparatus in the storage position; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a part of the apparatus; Figure 5 is a side elevation and part section of the apparatus; and Figure 6 shows the apparatus in use.

Referring to Figures 1,2 and 3 of the drawings, the apparatus consists of a tray 1, a cross-member in the form of a tube 2, and two locating members 3 and 4.

The tray is of a conventional type, made of plastic or other suitable material and including a peripherally extending lip 5 to prevent objects from sliding from the tray, and a horizontally projecting rim 6 for carrying purposes. the tube 2, made of aluminium or any suitable material, is connected to the underneath surface of the tray by means of two rivets 7 and 8 which extend through the bar and the tray as may be seen in Figures 1 and 2. The tube is spaced from the underneath surface in parallel relationship by means of two washers 9 and 10 which are held in place by the rivets and are contoured to fit the cylindrical surface of the tube 2.

At each end of the tube 2 the locating members 3 and 4 are mounted. Locating member 3, shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, comprises a connector 11, a tubular leg 12 and an end piece or foot 13. The connector 11, made from any suitable material such as moulded plastic, includes sleeve 14 mounting the connector 11 on tube 2 for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof. The internal diameter of sleeve 14 is slightly larger then the external diameter of the tube 2 to permit rotation and furthermore to allow sliding movement along the tube. This sliding movement is limited between an end stop 15 and the washer 9. Connector 11 includes a tubular section 16 into which leg 12, which may also be made from a moulded plastic, fits and is secured in position buy a rivet 17, and foot 13, of rubber or other suitable material, is mounted on the end of leg 12.In this embodiment, the other locating member 4 is identical with locating member 3, although it is possible to have an arrangement in which only one of the locating members is laterally slidable.

In use, a person grips the two locating members 3 and 4 as closely as practicable to each mounting sleeve 14 and slides them both outwardly to the end position. The tray is then positioned horizontally on the seated person's lap with the locating members rotated into a downwardly projecting position, as shown in Figure 5. The person holds the knees together and slides the two locating members inwardly, again by gripping them at or near sleeve 14, so as to press the locating members against the outer sides of the legs. The locating members are then released and the legs relaxed, when they have a tendency to move outwardly against the locating members.However the outward force of the legs is applied at some distance from the sleeve 14 where each locating member is mounted on tube 2, and instead of sliding outwards the locating members tilt outwardly into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. They are then locked against sliding movement by friction resulting from tilting sleeve 14 relative to tube 2. Thus due to the tendency of the relaxed legs to move slightly apart the apparatus is held securely in position, as shown in Figure 6. For removal of the tray the knees are brought inwardly and the locating members are moved outwards for removal; they are then rotated into the storage position shown in Figure 3 and in dotted lines in Figure 5. In this position the apparatus may be used as a conventional tray without legs.

The apparatus is suitable for use in the home, or in cars, trains or aircraft, i.e., wherever a stable surface is required for a seated person or possibly a person in a wheelchair.

The tray may be replaced by a flat board or framework to provide a working surface, easel, book rest or other support for the user.

The locating member 3 and 4may be shaped or curved more closely to embrace the user's legs.

Claims (9)

1. A support apparatus for use on the lap of a seated user, said apparatus providing a support surface, and two locating members arranged with said apparatus positioned on the lap of a user to extend downwardly either side of the legs of the user, at least one of said locating members being movable laterally of the user's legs to a position such that the members embrace the user's legs, and means for locking the movable member or members against lateral movement under force applied by the legs of the user to said movable member(s) whereby said locating members serve to locate the support apparatus relative to the user's legs.

2. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein both locating members are laterally movable.

3. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for locking the locating member(s) comprises friction locking means.

4. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the or each locating member is slidably mounted by the provision of mounting sleeves which slidably engage a cross member of the apparatus which lies, in use, generally transversely of the user's legs.

5. A support apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking means is such that locking action is induced only by outward force on the locating member(s) which tends to pivot or tilt the or each locating member about its mounting.

6. A support apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locating members are adapted to be pivotable between a downwardly extending position and a storage position generally at right angles to said downwardly extending position.

7. A support apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said support surface is a tray.

8. A support apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, the apparatus being an easel wherein said support surface is provided as part of a framework.

9. A support apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.