Barber chair tray having adjustable connecting assemblies

Abstract

A barber chair tray includes a tray body and adjustable connecting assemblies to connect the tray body to a barber chair. The connecting assemblies connect to a head rest assembly support structure present at the top of the chair's seatback, and allow the tray to hang at the back of the chair. The connecting assemblies allow the tray to swing away from the back of the chair when the chair's seatback is reclined to keep the tray body level, thereby preventing implements on the tray from falling off the tray. The connecting assemblies allow height and width adjustment to facilitate mounting of the chair tray to a variety of chair designs, and to allow the particular user of the tray to select a desired height at which the tray hangs while in use.

Claims

1. A barber chair tray, comprising: a tray body having a top in which a plurality of tray features are formed, and a skirt that extends downward from the top around a periphery of the top; at least one horizontal slot formed in a chair-facing side of the skirt; at least one captured nut that is captured in alignment with, and behind, the at least one horizontal slot and moveable along the at least one horizontal slot; a pair of vertical arms, each one of the pair of vertical arms having lower portion and a top portion, a vertical slot formed in the lower portion and a hinge tab extending from the top portion that has a horizontal hinge pin channel; a pair of connecting arms, each one of the pair of connecting arms including a hinge end configured to mate with the hinge tab of the vertical arms and to be hingeably connected to the hinge tab by a hinge pin, and a mounting end having an adjustment slot; wherein the vertical slot in each vertical arm is configured to receive a vertical adjustment screw member therethrough that couples with the at least one captured nut, and upon being coupled to the at least one captured nut the adjustable screw member holds the vertical arm at a selected height relative to the fixed nut or at least one captured nut; and wherein the adjustment slot in each connecting arm is configured to receive a mounting screw therethrough, wherein the mounting screw is configured to mount a headrest plate onto the top of a barber chair.

2. The barber chair tray of claim 1, further comprising: at the top portion of each of the pair of vertical arms, at least one angle-limiting extension that is configured to limit rotation of a one of the connecting arms hingeably connected to the vertical arm to a selected angle.

3. The barber chair tray of claim 2, wherein the selected angle is ninety degrees.

4. The barber chair tray of claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontal slot formed in the chair-facing side of the skirt comprises two horizontal slots, each slot having a respective captured nut for receiving the respective vertical adjustment screw member.

5. The barber chair tray of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tray features comprises at least one pocket that extends downward from the top of the tray body and which has a bottom.

6. The barber chair tray of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tray features comprises a clipper guard rack.

7. The barber chair tray of claim 1, further comprising: a pocket that extends downward from the top of the tray body and which has a bottom; and a dispensing slot formed through the skirt to the pocket at a location on the skirt opposite the chair-facing side of the skirt; and a tray insert that is sized to cover the pocket, and which has a rim that extends outward from a periphery of a top of the tray insert that is configured to bear against the top of the tray to hold the tray insert over the pocket without allowing it to fall into the pocket.

8. A barber chair tray, comprising: a tray body having a top in which a plurality of tray features are formed, and a skirt that extends downward from the top around a periphery of the top; a pair of horizontal slots formed in a chair-facing side of the skirt, each of the pair of horizontal slots having a nut captured therein; a pair of threaded connectors, each one of the pair of threaded connectors disposed with and captured behind a respective one of the pair of horizontal slots such that each threaded connector can slide horizontally and is prevented from moving vertically; a pair of vertical arms, each one of the pair of vertical arms having lower portion and a top portion, a vertical slot formed in the lower portion and a hinge tab extending from the top portion that has a horizontal hinge pin channel; a pair of connecting arms, each one of the pair of connecting arms including a hinge end configured to mate with the hinge tab of the vertical arms and to be hingeably connected to the hinge tab by a hinge pin, and a mounting end having an adjustment slot; wherein the vertical slot in each vertical arm is configured to receive a vertical adjustment screw member therethrough that couples with a corresponding one of the nuts captured in the pair of horizontal slots to hold the vertical arm at a selected height relative to the pair of horizontal slots; and wherein the adjustment slot in each connecting arm is configured to receive a mounting screw therethrough, wherein the mounting screw is configured to mount a headrest plate onto the top of a barber chair.

9. The barber chair tray of claim 8, further comprising: at the top portion of each of the pair of vertical arms, at least one angle-limiting extension that is configured to limit rotation of a one of the connecting arms hingeably connected to the vertical arm to a selected angle.

10. The barber chair tray of claim 9, wherein the selected angle is ninety degrees.

11. The barber chair tray of claim 8, wherein the plurality of tray features comprises at least one pocket that extends downward from the top of the tray body and which has a bottom.

12. The barber chair tray of claim 8, wherein the plurality of tray features comprises a clipper guard rack.

13. The barber chair tray of claim 8, further comprising: a pocket that extends downward from the top of the tray body and which has a bottom; and a dispensing slot formed through the skirt to the pocket at a location on the skirt opposite the chair-facing side of the skirt; and a tray insert that is sized to cover the pocket, and which has a rim that extends outward from a periphery of a top of the tray insert that is configured to bear against the top of the tray to hold the tray insert over the pocket without allowing it to fall into the pocket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is perspective view of a barber chair tray, in accordance with some embodiments;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of a tray portion of a barber chair tray, in accordance with some embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side cut-away view of a barber chair tray looking from the chair-facing side of the barber chair tray, in accordance with some embodiments;

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a barber chair to which a barber chair tray is attached, in accordance with some embodiments;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a barber chair tray showing how the height of the vertical arms and the width between them can be adjusted to connect the barber chair tray to any barber chair, in accordance with some embodiments;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side cut-away view of a captured nut in a barber chair tray for adjusting width and height relating to the vertical arms used to attach the barber chair tray to a barber chair, in accordance with some embodiments;

(8) FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the top of a barber chair showing how a barber chair tray connected to the barber chair, in accordance with some embodiments;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a detail of how a vertical arm and a connecting arm of a barber chair tray couple together, in accordance with some embodiments;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a barber chair with a barber chair tray in an upright position, in accordance with some embodiments; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a barber chair with a barber chair tray in a reclined position, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

(13) The present invention provides a novel barber chair tray that can hold hair styling accessories and other implements in a level state as the barber chair seat back is reclined.

(14) FIG. 1 is perspective view of a barber chair tray 100, in accordance with some embodiments. The barber chair tray 100 includes a tray portion 102 that generally has a top surface 104 and a skirt portion 106 depending from the top surface 104 around a periphery 108 of the top surface 104. The skirt 106 forms a side wall that extends down from the top surface 104. The tray portion can be made, for example, of a polymeric material such as plastic. It can also be made of a forged/stamped metal such as mild steel or stainless steel.

(15) The tray portion 102 includes a plurality of tray features formed in the top surface 104, such as, for example, pockets such as pocket 110, openings of various shapes and sizes such as opening 112, a tray insert 114, pocket 116 having finger recesses, and a clipper guard rack 118. The pockets 110, 116 can be sized to hold specific accessories or implements such as clippers. Some pockets 110 can be sized to hold items in general, without being sized for any particular implement. The tray insert 114 can be a flat tray piece that covers a pocket or other recess in which something can be stored/held. For example, a roll or package of paper neck wraps can be disposed in a pocket under tray insert 114, with the neck wraps being dispensed through a dispensing slot 120 formed in the skirt 106 opposite the chair-facing side of the skirt 106. The tray insert can include a rim that extends outward from a periphery of a top of the tray insert that is configured to bear against the top of the tray to hold the tray insert over the pocket without allowing it to fall into the pocket. The clipper guard rack 118 is designed as several adjacent elongated openings in which clipper guards can be placed, and through which any hair on the clipper guards can fall upon being placed in the clipper guard rack 118.

(16) To connect the tray portion 102 to a barber chair, there is a vertically and horizontally adjustable connecting assembly that connect to a headrest mounting plate of the barber chair, and to a chair-facing side of the skirt 106. By being horizontally and vertically adjustable, the barber chair tray 100 can be mounted on barber chairs having different designs, and the barber can adjust the positions of the barber chair tray 100 to their liking. In the example of FIG. 1, there are first and second connecting assemblies formed by a pair of vertical arms 122 that connect to the chair-facing side of the skirt 106 using, for example, screws or bolts (a screw member). The vertical arms 122 each connect at a hinge 126 to a respective connecting arm 124. The connecting arms 124 have a central slot 128 along a portion of the connecting arm 124. The slot 128 allows a threaded portion of a screw member to pass through the slot and into, for example, a mounting plate on top of a barber chair back, wherein the head of the screw member will bear against the connecting arm 124 outside of the slot 128 to retain the connecting arm, and hence the vertical arms 122 and the tray portion 102 to the barber chair. More detail of these features follows in several of the subsequent drawings.

(17) FIG. 2 is a top view of a tray portion 102 of the barber chair tray of FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments. From the top view as shown the chair-facing side 200 of the skirt is at the bottom of the drawing. The various tray features such as pockets 110, 116, 204 are shown, as well as opening 112 and clipper guard rack 118. In this view the it can be seen that the clipper guard rack 118 includes a relatively wide elongated central opening 206 that is flanked on each side by narrower openings/slots 208, 210, with parallel rails 212, 214 separating the slots 208, 210 from the central opening 206. There can also be a plurality of openings such as opening 112 that are configured to hold implements such as scissors or other styling implements.

(18) FIG. 3 is a side cut-away view of the tray portion 102 of a barber chair tray 100 looking from the chair-facing side of the barber chair tray 100, in accordance with some embodiments. IN this view it can be seen that the skirt 106 depends from an outer periphery 108 of the top surface 104. Several implements are included in this view as examples of what can be held in the tray 100. For example, a pair of scissors 302 can be held in opening 112. Under tray insert 114 there can be disposed a package of neck wraps 304 that can be individually dispensed through a slot (e.g. 120) on the opposite side of the tray 100. Various clippers 306, 308 can be placed in pockets 116, 204, and clipper guard 310 is shown in clipper guard rack 118. Straight razor 312 is shown placed in an opening similar to opening 112 on an opposite side of the tray 100. Numerous other implements can be placed in the tray portion 102, in pockets or opening, or on top of tray insert 114. Further, the tray features can be varied in location, size, arrangement, inclusion, and so on, as may be preferred for different purposes (e.g. barber, hair stylist).

(19) FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view 400 of a barber chair 402 to which a barber chair tray 408 is attached, in accordance with some embodiments. The barber chair 402 includes a seat back 404 against which a patron can lean against with their back when sitting in the barber chair 402. At the top of the seat back 404 is a head rest 406. The head rest has a support or supports which extend into the seat back 404, allowing the head rest 406 to be raised and lowered, as is known. Typically these supports pass through a plate (not seen here) on the top of the seat back 404. Connecting arms 410, 412 connect to the plate, and allow some lateral adjustment due to the central slot (e.g. 128) formed in the connecting arms. When the seat back 404 is reclined (from the upright position shown here), the hinge elements (e.g. 126) coupling the connecting arms to the vertical arms allow the tray portion 408 to remain level instead of tilting with the seat back 404.

(20) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a barber chair tray 500 showing how the height of the vertical arms and the width between them can be adjusted to connect the barber chair tray to any barber chair, in accordance with some embodiments. At least one horizontal slot on the chair-facing side of the tray 500 allows a width adjustment between the vertical arms, while horizontal slots in the vertical arms allow for a vertical adjustment of the height of the tray 500 relative to the barber chair.

(21) In the present example there are shown two horizontal slots 502, 504 in the chair-facing side of the skirt of the tray 500 that allow horizontal adjustment of the connection point of the vertical arm or arms. In correspondence with each slot is a connector that can be captured so as to allow the connector to move horizontally. In some embodiments the captured connector can be limited to moving only horizontally and not vertically. In some embodiments the connector can be a snap fit connector in which a deformable connecting member with a retention feature can be placed while passing through the vertical slot 512, 518 of a vertical arm 510, 516. In some embodiments the connector can be a threaded connected that receives a screw member. In some embodiments the threaded connector can be a hexagonal machine nut. Thus, in some embodiments, behind the horizontal slots 502, 504 there can be another portion of the tray 500 that captures a nut 506, 508 in alignment or in correspondence with the slot. That is, the slots 502, 504 are wide enough to allow access to the threaded hole in the nuts 506, 508, but not wide enough to allow the nuts 506, 508 to pass through the slots 502, 504. The vertical arms 510, 516 each have a lower portion having a vertical slot 512, 518 through which the threaded portion of a screw member 514, 520 can pass to engage the threaded hole of the corresponding nut 506, 508. Thus, the vertical arms 510, 516 can be adjusted horizontally by adjusting the horizontal position of a nut or nuts in their respective slot, as indicated by arrow 522. Further, the vertical arms 510, 516 can be vertically adjusted along the vertical slots 512, 518 as indicated by arrow 524. When the vertical arms 510, 516 have been adjusted to a desirable horizontal and vertical position, the screw members 514, 520 can be tightened to fix the vertical arms 510, 516 relative to the chair-facing side of the skirt of the tray 500. As indicated, in this example both vertical arms are horizontally adjustable, but in some embodiments there can be only one horizontal slot as only one of the vertical arms needs to be horizontally moveable to adjust the width between them. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, only one of the connectors, such as nuts 506, 508, is movable, and the other can be fixed (e.g. not moveable) as only one needs to be moveable in order to adjust the width between the first and second hinged connecting assemblies.

(22) FIG. 6 is a side cut-away view 600 of a captured nut 612 in a barber chair tray for adjusting width and height relating to the vertical arms used to attach the barber chair tray to a barber chair, in accordance with some embodiments. A tray portion 602 includes a skirt 616 having a chair-facing portion or side 604 in which a horizontal slot 614 is formed. Behind the slot 614 is a housing or track 610, or equivalent member, which forms a channel in which the captured nut 612 is located. The channel has a height that is greater than the height of the horizontal slot 614 and is positioned such that the threaded hole in the center of the nut 612 is completely accessible through the slot 614. The nut 612 can be a conventional hexagonal nut, and the channel can be slightly higher than the width of the nut 612 (from flat side to opposite flat side) to prevent the nut 612 from rotating in the channel but allowing it to move horizontally within the channel. Positioned in front of the chair-facing side 616 is a vertical arm 606 which can be substantially similar to vertical arms 510, 516 of FIG. 5, and has a vertical slot formed in the lower portion of the vertical arm 606 through which the threaded portion of a screw member 608 can pass to engage and thread into the captured nut 612. The screw member 608 can be a screw or bolt or equivalent structure that engages the captured nut or equivalent member tightly enough to hold the vertical arm in a selected position. The vertical arm 606 can be moved vertically with the screw member 608 passing through the vertical slot of the vertical arm, and the horizontally by moving the vertical arm 606, nut 612, and screw member 608 along the horizontal slot 614.

(23) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are various alternative structures that can allow vertical and horizontal adjustment of the vertical arms to the tray body. For example, a sliding boss member can extend from the tray body that passes through the vertical slot of the respective vertical arm. In general, the connection points of the vertical arms to the tray body are both vertically (height) and horizontally (width) selectable and adjustable.

(24) FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the top 702 of a barber chair 700 showing how a barber chair tray 704 is connected to the barber chair 702, in accordance with some embodiments. The top 702 of the barber chair can include a mounting plate or bracket or headrest plate 708 in which a support hole 709 is formed to receive a support member for a head rest (not shown). The plate 708 supports the head rest to keep it centered over the top 702 of the chair 700. The plate 708 can be attached to the top 702 of the chair 700 using screw members 714, 716 (e.g. mounting screws) that have a threaded shank that screw into a rigid frame or similar structure inside the seat back, passing through the slots of the connecting arms 710, 712 at a mounting end of the connecting arms 710, 712.

(25) The tray 704 is coupled to a pair of vertical arms 706, 718 at a chair-facing side of a skirt of the tray 704. The vertical arms 706, 718 extend up, vertically from the tray 704 to hingeably connect with respective connecting arms 710, 712. The connecting arms 710, 712 have an adjustment slot similar to the vertical slot in the vertical arms 706, 718 which allows screw members 714, 716 to pass through the adjustment slot such that the head of the screw members 714, 716 bears against the connecting arm to fix it in a desired position. The adjustment slot in each connecting arm 710, 712 allows the user to adjust the position of the connecting arms relative to the screw members 714, 716 so that the hinge connector formed by the top of the vertical arms 706, 718 and the hinge tabs of the connecting arms extend slightly over a back edge of the plate 708 to allow the vertical arms 706, 718 to extend downward, without bearing against the back side of the chair 700. As the seat back is reclined, the hinged joints allow the tray to remain substantially level.

(26) FIG. 8 shows a detail of how a vertical arm 802 and a connecting arm 808 of a barber chair tray couple together, in accordance with some embodiments. Only the top portion of the vertical arm 802, and the hinge end of the connecting arm 808 are shown but the these components can be substantially similar to the vertical and connecting arms shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 7. The top portion of the vertical arm 802 includes a hinge tab 804 that includes a horizontal hinge pin channel 806 formed through the hinge tab 804. The hinge tab 804 can fit between two similar hinge tabs 819, 812 formed in the hinge end of the connecting arm 808, each of which have a similar hinge pin channel. A hinge pin 814 can pass through the hinge pin channels in hinge tabs 804, 810, 812 to form a hinge, allowing the vertical arm 802 and connecting arm 808 to move relative to each other about the hinge pin 814.

(27) The top of the vertical arm 802 can include an angle-limiting extension such as standoff feature 816 on either side of the hinge tab 804 the prevents the vertical arm from rotating under the connecting arm 808 such that there is less than a selected angle. The standoff features 816 bear against the bottom of the connecting arm when the angle between the vertical arm 802 and the connecting arm 808 is at ninety degrees. As shown here, the standoff features are at ninety degrees to the elongated direction of the vertical arm body, and thus the angle between the vertical arm and the connecting arm, under the connecting arm, cannot be less than ninety degrees. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different minimum angles can be selected by controlling the angle of the standoff features 816 with respect to the vertical arm.

(28) The vertical arm 802, connecting arm 808, and hinge pin 814 can be made of any suitable material, including metals or polymeric materials. The vertical arm 802, connecting arm 808, and hinge pin 814 can each be made of different materials, or they can all be made of the same material. The hinge pin 814 can be longer than the total length of the hinge pin channels, and after being inserted through the hinge pin channels the opposing ends of the hinge pin be worked to expand the ends so that the ends cannot pass through the hinge pin channels, thereby retaining the hinge pin 814 in the hinge pin channels.

(29) FIG. 9 shows a reclining barber chair 900, with a barber chair tray 904, and with the chair seat back 902 in an upright position, in accordance with some embodiments. The barber chair tray 904 is connected to the mounting plate that supports the head rest 910 via the vertical arms 906 that are hingeably connected to the connecting arms 908, in accordance with the hinge structure of FIG. 8. The vertical arms 906 are at substantially ninety degrees to the connecting arms 908.

(30) FIG. 10 shows a reclining barber chair 900, with a barber chair tray 904, and with the chair seat back 902 in a reclined position, in accordance with some embodiments. With the chair seat back 902 reclined, the barber chair tray 904 remain substantially level as it swings away from the back of the chair seat back 902 as indicated by arrow 912. The hinge joint formed at the coupling of the vertical arms 906 and the connecting arms 908 allow the tray 904 to remain level as the chair seat back 902 is reclined. When the chair seat back 902 is raised back to the upright position, the angle between the vertical arms 906 and the back of the chair seat back 902 will decrease as the tray swings back toward the seat back 902.

(31) Accordingly, embodiments of the inventive disclosure provide a barber chair tray that is configured to connect to top of a reclining chair seatback, and hang below the top of the seatback and the back of the chair. As the chair seatback is reclined, the tray will remain level by swinging away from the back of the seat. This movement is facilitated by a connecting assemblies that allow movement of the tray relative to the seat, such as with, for example, hinges. The connecting assemblies firmly connect the tray to the top of the chair, taking advantage of mounting elements present for supporting a head rest of the chair. The inventive barber chair tray thereby allows the barber or similar service provider to remain behind or beside the chair while providing service to a patron or customer, keeping frequently used implements in easy reach, and providing a level surface in the event the service provider needs to place a container with liquids on the tray, and to keep implements on the tray from sliding off and falling on the floor, as would happen if the tray were rigidly mounted to the chair.