Apparatus and method for drop tray

Abstract

To provide an apparatus and method for catching spills.SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises a drop tray and a high-chair including one or more legs and a high-chair seat. The apparatus further comprises one or more legs that may be connected to the high-chair, where the one or more legs may raise the high-chair seat above a floor. Moreover, the apparatus comprises the drop tray that may be disposed above the floor and underneath the high-chair seat. The drop tray may surround the one or more legs of the high-chair, where the drop tray may include an upper peripheral edge above a base and surrounding the base. Furthermore, the drop tray may include one or more sidewalls extending between the upper peripheral edge and the base. Moreover, the base may be affixed to the one or more legs of the high-chair.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Application No. 2021 / 901051, filed on April 11, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for a drop tray used to capture falling debris (specifically, without limitation, debris dropped by an infant while sitting in a high chair, such as food and liquid).

Background Art

[0003] It should not be construed that any discussion of any problems identified and solved by the applicant, including any description of any prior art or background, is known to anyone other than the applicant, or that it was anywhere public knowledge or common general knowledge.

[0004] Conventional high chairs may include a certain form of restraint means or upper portion (usually a front table portion) formed with four spread legs, a seat, leg holes, and rails.

[0005] Food, liquids, utensils, or plates may often fall or spill onto the floor. Young children can be very playful and moody. The usual solution may be to place a drop sheet or mat on the floor and place the chair on the mat. The mat may have sufficient margin around the chair to accommodate debris falling from the child's activities. If you want to move the chair, the mat may already be messy, and the mat must be moved separately from the chair. Very often, baby hoods are not very attractive, so the mat may have to be cleaned before it can be moved. Moving the mat can create more mess. Moving the chair and mat separately can create additional work for the parent.

[0006] It is desirable to provide a useful alternative, particularly a drop tray, that can be moved with the chair, is easy to install, easy to clean, and inexpensive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a high chair drop tray having an upper peripheral portion above and surrounding a base, and a side wall extending between the peripheral portion and the base, the base having means for defining spaced openings for spaced high chair legs.

[0008] Preferably, the tray is formed from a thin sheet plastic blank having a perimeter corresponding to the peripheral portion and a base portion inside the perimeter corresponding to the base, the base portion having means for defining spaced openings, preferably leg holes, and a margin existing between the base portion and the perimeter, the margin corresponding to the side wall, and further having at least one coupler portion adapted to engage the side wall and simultaneously bias the side wall to its operative position.

[0009] In one embodiment, the tray is for use with a high chair having four extended legs that extend from the seat region of the chair to the ends of the legs, and the opposing pairs of ends of the legs are diametrically opposed with a leg end spacing between the opposing ends and means for defining spaced-apart openings provide four leg holes as a pair of diametrically opposed holes corresponding to the legs of the chair, and the spacing between the opposing leg holes is less than the leg end spacing.

[0010] In another embodiment, the tray is for use with a chair having two legs or uprights, in which case the means for defining spaced-apart openings provides two spaced-apart slots for the uprights or legs of the chair with a square profile that are spaced apart.

[0011] In one embodiment, the tray may be formed from a single material including side wall portions that are pulled behind adjacent wall portions and have releasable hand-insertable fasteners for securing the wall portions together.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, the tray may be formed by using a coupler that includes side wall portions that are pulled behind adjacent wall portions and have releasable hand-insertable fasteners for securing the wall portions together.

[0013] The tray may have any shape suitable for capturing dropped food, but preferably the tray is generally dish-shaped with sloped side walls defining an upper mouth wider than the base and may typically be box-shaped. In another embodiment, thin plastic may be used, but the side walls may preferably be manually deformable effectively and configured to bounce back to their operating position. It may be pulled to assist in sweeping or removing food from the tray.

[0014] The means defining the apertures disposed apart may be a cut-out aperture, but may be of any type, for example, without limitation, an actual hole, slot, lateral inlet path, in the sense of a closed loop, an array or means formed within these including an extruded portion within the base, or a clip.

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate some embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10A

Figure 10B

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. As far as possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar parts. Although several exemplary embodiments are described herein, changes, adaptations, and other embodiments are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or changes may be made to the components and steps illustrated in the drawings, and the exemplary methods described herein may be changed by substituting, rearranging, removing, or adding steps to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and examples. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may relate to a drop tray that is a removable fixture for a child's high chair to catch spills of food or liquids, utensils, plates, and other debris that have fallen from the high chair. The drop tray may be used with a high chair, which may have one or more legs and a high chair seat on which a child may be placed. The drop tray may be directly connected to the high chair without connecting to one or more legs of the high chair, or may be attached under the high chair (directly under the high chair seat). The fixture or interface of the drop tray may include clipping, snapping, plugging, and / or integration with a footrest, car seat, chair, booster seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. The drop tray may be disposed between the floor and the bottom of the high chair seat, and the drop tray is raised above the floor. The drop tray is disposed under the high chair seat and above the floor, but may have a surface area that includes and surrounds the bottom of the high chair and / or the high chair seat. The surface area of the drop tray may also extend in all directions to surround the high chair in all directions, and the drop tray may catch spills of food or liquids, utensils, plates, and other debris that have been dropped from the high chair by an infant or child. The fixture of the drop tray (including one or more legs) may function as a footrest for the child.The drop tray may be a single material having one or more pieces joined to a common piece and not separable, and the one or more pieces may be folded onto themselves using deformable tab clips to form a fixed and stable drop tray having a raised wall, and may be attached to a high chair, footrest, car seat, chair, booster seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. Also, the drop tray may be one or more pieces separately connected to each other so as to be folded onto themselves using deformable tab clips to form a fixed, stable, and / or rigid drop tray having a raised wall, and may be attached to a high chair, footrest, car seat, chair, booster seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. The drop tray may be a single device formed from a continuous single material having a base and a raised wall, and may be attached to a high chair, footrest, car seat, chair, booster seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. The drop tray may be snugly fixed or placed beneath a high chair seat, footrest, car seat, chair, booster seat, or any other functionally similar device by specifically positioned holes or interfaces through which the high chair frame can enter or be connected to the drop tray. The positioned holes or interfaces may prevent spills of food or liquids dropped by an infant or child from the high chair, utensils, and other debris from falling to the floor. The drop tray may be used on a high chair, with or without a supply tray or footrest, or any other functionally similar device for children. The drop tray may be formed from a waterproof and food-safe material. Also, the drop tray may be formed from a food-grade plastic material, thermoplastic material, thermosetting material, injection-molded plastic, silicone, or other material that may be deformable, shaped, thermoformed, and / or safe for a dishwasher.Thermoforming the drop tray may mean that the drop tray can be formed from a continuous single material without the need to assemble the parts of the drop tray. The thermoforming process may include any other similar manufacturing or plastic molding or forming process, such as injection molding, silicone molding, polyurethane foam (PUR foam) molding, and / or any other functionally similar process obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0018] Generally, children's high chairs can consist of a high chair frame, a seat, and a supply tray. The seat may be for an infant to sit on. The supply tray may be used to hold bowls, bottles, utensils, tableware, or food.

[0019] Conventional high chairs may not include a tray for catching spilled food or liquid, utensils, plates, and other debris that fall from the high chair. Thus, when a child can eat, food and utensils generally spill or fall onto the floor from the tray, front, sides, and back of the high chair, or between the leg compartments of the high chair.

[0020] The drop tray can catch spilled food or liquid, plates, or utensils, so the food can be retrieved or discarded, the spill can be disposed of, the utensils or plates can be reused, while protecting the floor under the high chair from damaged or soiled debris. The drop tray also ensures that food and utensils can be retrieved from the drop tray at an appropriate height, eliminating the need for the caregiver to repeatedly bend to a low and uncomfortable position when feeding the infant and cleaning up during and after meal times. The raised height of the drop tray may also function as a footrest, so that during meal times, the infant's feet are resting and not dangling in an unstable and uncomfortable manner.

[0021] Figure 1 is a typical view of a drip tray having an opening consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 1, a drip tray 100 having an opening may include a raised sidewall and an open top surface, together with a base. The drip tray 100 may include a base 112 and a plurality of upper peripheral portions 114 positioned above and surrounding the base 112 to form an open top surface, and the base 112 may be connected to the plurality of peripheral portions 114 by a plurality of raised sidewalls extending from the base 112 to the plurality of peripheral portions 114.

[0022] The plurality of raised sidewalls may include a first sidewall 116, a second sidewall 118, a third sidewall 120, and a fourth sidewall 122. The first sidewall 116 may be equal in size and shape to the second sidewall 118. The first sidewall 116 may be positioned parallel and opposite to the second sidewall 118 with respect to the base 112. The third sidewall 120 may be equal in size and shape to the fourth sidewall 122. The third sidewall 120 may be positioned parallel and opposite to the fourth sidewall 122 with respect to the base 112. The first sidewall 116 may not be equal in size and shape to the third sidewall 120. In other embodiments, the first sidewall 116, the second sidewall 118, the third sidewall 120, and the fourth sidewall 122 may be equal in size and shape.

[0023] The plurality of raised side walls and the base 112 may each be in the shape of a square, rectangle, circle, triangle, ellipse, and / or any combination thereof. Further, the plurality of raised side walls may also include a first corner side wall 124 and a second side wall 126 that may appear triangular, elliptical, circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, round, or square-shaped. The first corner side wall 124 may be connected to the first side wall 116, the third side wall 120, and the base 112. The second corner side wall 126 may be connected to the first side wall 116, the fourth side wall 122, and the base 112. Further, the plurality of raised side walls may also include a third corner side wall 128 and a fourth corner side wall 130 that may appear to have a trapezoidal shape. The third corner side wall 128 may be connected to the second side wall 118, the third side wall 120, and the base 112. The fourth corner side wall 130 may be connected to the second side wall 118, the fourth side wall 122, and the base 112.

[0024] Furthermore, the first corner side wall 124 and the third corner 128 may each share an edge with the third side wall 120 and be directly connected to the third side wall 120. Also, the first corner side wall 124 may include a deformable tab clip 132. The deformable tab clip 132 may be inserted through a deformable slit opening on the upper corner surface of the first side wall 116. Similarly, the third corner side wall 128 may include a deformable tab clip 134. The deformable tab clip 134 may be inserted on the upper corner surface of the second side wall 118.

[0025] Also, the second corner side wall 126 and the fourth corner 130 may each share an edge with and be directly connected to the fourth side wall 122. Further, the second corner side wall 126 may include a deformable tab clip 136. The deformable tab clip 136 may be inserted via a deformable slit opening on the corner surface substantially at the upper part of the first side wall 116. Similarly, the fourth corner side wall 130 may include a deformable tab clip 138. The deformable tab clip 138 may be inserted on the corner surface substantially at the upper part of the second side wall 118. The deformable tab clips 132, 134, 136, and 138 may be in the shape of a triangle, a circle, a rectangle, a trapezoid, an oval, a spade, an arrow, and / or any combination thereof.

[0026] The base 112 may include one or more openings 140 for connecting to or housing the legs or stand of a high chair, a footrest, an automobile seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. The base 112 may be attached to the legs or stand of a high chair, a footrest, an automobile seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. Each of the one or more openings 140 may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and / or any combination thereof. The one or more openings 140 may be disposed substantially near the corners, edges, and / or center of the base 112. In one embodiment, the one or more openings 140 may be four circles disposed substantially at the corners of the base 112. The one or more openings may have a local surface area that can be raised above the surface of the base 112 and connected to the surface of the base 112. This is to prevent food or liquid spilled by an infant from the high chair, utensils, plates, and other debris from slipping through the interfaces of the legs or stand of the high chair, the footrest, the interface of the automobile seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. The openings may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and / or any combination thereof.

[0027] In another embodiment, the base 112 has one or more legs instead of the one or more openings 140, such that the drop tray 100 can stand on its own under a high chair, footrest, chair, booster seat, or any other functionally similar device for children.

[0028] In yet another embodiment, the one or more openings 140 are disposed on a plurality of rising side walls instead of the base 112, such that the one or more openings 140 can be connected to or accommodate a high chair leg or stand, footrest, car seat, or any other functionally similar device for children.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a representative view of a drop tray having slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a drop tray 200 having slot openings may include a base, rising side walls, and an open top surface. The drop tray 200 may share all the same features as the drop tray 100 in FIG. 1. The drop tray 200 may include a base 212 (see also base 112) and a plurality of upper peripheral edges 214 (see also plurality of upper peripheral edges 114) positioned above and surrounding the base 212 to form an open top surface. The base 212 may be connected to the plurality of peripheral edges 214 by a plurality of rising side walls 216 extending from the base 212 to the plurality of peripheral edges 214. The plurality of rising side walls 216 may include the same first side wall 116, second side wall 118, third side wall 120, fourth side wall 122, first corner side wall 124, second corner side wall 126, third corner side wall 128, and fourth corner side wall 130 as described above in FIG. 1.

[0030] The base 212 may include one or more apertures 218 for coupling to or receiving a high chair, footrest, vehicle seat, or any other functionally similar device for children. The one or more apertures 218 may be disposed generally near the edge 220 of the base 212 and may be two slots centered between the edges 222 and 224 of the base 212. The slots may be in the shape of a square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, star, and / or any combination thereof.

[0031] Figure 3 is a diagram of a cut-away blank sheet of a drop tray having an aperture, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 3, the drop tray 300 having an aperture may be in a folded configuration from which the drop tray 100 of Figure 1 may be assembled. The drop tray 300 may include a base 312 (see also base 112 of Figure 1), a first sidewall 316 (see also first sidewall 116 of Figure 1), a second sidewall 318 (see also second sidewall 118 of Figure 1), a third sidewall 320 (see also third sidewall 120 of Figure 1), and a fourth sidewall 322 (see also fourth sidewall 122 of Figure 1).

[0032] Furthermore, the drop tray 300 may include a first corner sidewall 324 (see also first corner sidewall 124 of Figure 1), a second corner sidewall 326 (see also second corner sidewall 126 of Figure 1), a third corner sidewall 328 (see also third corner sidewall 128 of Figure 1), and a fourth corner sidewall 330 (see also fourth corner sidewall 130 of Figure 1). The plurality of raised sidewalls of Figure 1 may include the first sidewall 316, the second sidewall 318, the third sidewall 320, the fourth sidewall 322, the first corner sidewall 324, the second corner sidewall 326, the third corner sidewall 328, and the fourth corner sidewall 330.

[0033] In addition, the drip tray 300 may include deformable tab clips 332 connected to the first corner side wall 324 (see also the deformable tab clip 132 in FIG. 1), deformable tab clips 334 connected to the third corner side wall 328 (see also the deformable tab clip 134 in FIG. 1), deformable tab clips 336 connected to the second corner side wall 326 (see also the deformable tab clip 136 in FIG. 1), and deformable tab clips 338 connected to the fourth corner side wall 330 (see also the deformable tab clip 138 in FIG. 1).

[0034] Furthermore, the drip tray 300 may include four openings 340 on the base 312, deformable slit openings 342 on the first side wall 316 (the deformable slit opening 342 may be arranged near the deformable tab clip 332 for inserting the deformable tab clip 332 into the deformable slit opening 342), deformable slit openings 344 on the second side wall 318 (the deformable slit opening 344 may be arranged near the deformable tab clip 334 for inserting the deformable tab clip 334 into the deformable slit opening 344), deformable slit openings 346 on the first side wall 316 (the deformable slit opening 346 may be arranged near the deformable tab clip 336 for inserting the deformable tab clip 336 into the deformable slit opening 346), and deformable slit openings 348 on the second side wall 318 (the deformable slit opening 348 may be arranged near the deformable tab clip 338 for inserting the deformable tab clip 338 into the deformable slit opening 348). The openings may be in the shape of a square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, star, and / or any combination thereof.

[0035] Also, the first corner side wall 324 may share an edge 350 with the third side wall 320, the third corner side wall 328 may share an edge 352 with the third side wall 320, the second corner side wall 326 may share an edge 354 with the fourth side wall 322, and the fourth corner side wall 330 may share an edge 356 with the fourth side wall 322.

[0036] In addition, the plurality of upper peripheral portions 114 of FIG. 1 may include the edge 358 of the first side wall 316, the edge 360 of the first corner side wall 324, the edge 362 of the third side wall 320, the edge 364 of the third corner side wall 328, the edge 366 of the second side wall 318, the edge 368 of the fourth corner side wall 330, the edge 370 of the fourth side wall 322, and the edge 372 of the second corner side wall 326. The deformable slit openings 342 and 346 may be perpendicular to the edge 358, and the deformable slit openings 344 and 348 may be perpendicular to the edge 366. In another embodiment, the edges 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, and 372 may be straight lines and / or curves. In yet another embodiment, the edges 360, 364, 368, and 372 may be curves that can form a dish shape with respect to the first corner side wall 324, the second corner side wall 326, the third corner side wall 328, and the fourth side wall 330 in the assembled drop tray 100 of FIG. 1 and the drop tray 200 of FIG. 2.

[0037] Furthermore, the deformable slit openings 342, 344, 346, and 348 may each be formed in the form of two parallel lines spaced apart to form an opening. One end of each line having a circle at one end may be connected, and the other end of each line having another circle at the other end may be connected.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a diagram of assembling a corner of a drop tray, which is consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in order to assemble the drop tray 400 (see also the drop tray 100 in FIG. 1, the 200 and 300 in FIG. 2), a deformable slit 438 (see also the deformable slits 342, 344, 346, or 348 in FIG. 3) may be adapted to cooperate with a deformable tab clip 439 (see also the deformable tab clips 332, 334, 336, or 336 in FIG. 3) adapted to pull the corner side wall 440 (see also the first corner side wall 324, the second corner side wall 326, the third corner side wall 328, or the fourth corner side wall 330 in FIG. 3) behind the side wall 441 (see also the first side wall 316 or the second side wall 318 in FIG. 3). The width of the widest part of the deformable tab clip 439 may exceed the length of the deformable slit 438. The deformable tab clip 439 may be deformably passed through the deformable slit 438, and the widest part of the deformable clip 439 may be fixed so that the neck 443 of the deformable tab clip 439 can be aligned with the deformable slit 438. The deformable slit 438 may be at an angle of 90 degrees from the edge 444 of the side wall 441 (see also the edge 358 or 366 in FIG. 3), whereby the corner side wall 440 can be parallel to the edge 444 of the side wall 441.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a cut blank sheet of a drip tray having a slot opening, which is consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the drip tray 500 having a slot opening may be in a folded configuration, and from this configuration, the drip tray 200 of FIG. 2 may be assembled. The drip tray 500 may also share all the same features as the drip tray 300 in FIG. 3. The drip tray 500 may include a base 512 (see also the base 112 of FIG. 1, the base 212 of FIG. 2, and the base 313 of FIG. 3), a first side wall 516 (see also the first side wall 116 of FIG. 1, the first side wall 216 of FIG. 2, and the first side wall 316 of FIG. 3), a second side wall 518 (see also the second side wall 118 of FIG. 1, the second side wall 218 of FIG. 2, and the second side wall 318 of FIG. 3), a third side wall 520 (see also the third side wall 120 of FIG. 1, the third side wall 220 of FIG. 2, and the third side wall 318 of FIG. 3), and a fourth side wall 522 (see also the fourth side wall 122 of FIG. 1, the fourth side wall 222 of FIG. 2, and the fourth side wall 322 of FIG. 3).

[0040] Furthermore, the base 512 may have edges 524, 526, 528, and 530. The edge 524 may be on the opposite side of the edge 526, and the edge 528 may be on the opposite side of the edge 530. The edge 524 may be parallel to the edge 526, and the edge 528 may be parallel to the edge 530. The first side wall 516 may share the base 512 and the edge 524, the second side wall 518 may share the base 512 and the edge 526, the third side wall 520 may share the base 512 and the edge 528, and the fourth side wall 522 may share the base 512 and the edge 530.

[0041] In addition, the base 512 may include slot openings 532 and 534 (see also one or more of the openings 218 in FIG. 2). The slot opening 532 may include parallel edges 538 and 542, and the ends thereof may be connected to semi - circles 536 and 540 respectively. The slot opening 534 may include parallel edges 546 and 550, and the ends thereof may be connected to semi - circles 544 and 548 respectively. The slot openings 532 and 534 may be centered between the edge 528 and the edge 530. Further, the slot openings 532 and 534 may be offset so as to be positioned near the edge 524 and further away from the edge 526. The edges 538 and 542 of the slot opening 532 may be parallel to the edge 528 and perpendicular to the edge 524. The edges 546 and 550 of the slot opening 534 may also be parallel to the edge 528 and perpendicular to the edge 524. The slot openings may be in the shape of a square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, star, and / or any combination thereof.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a cut - away blank sheet of a drip tray having diagonal slot openings, which is consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the drip tray 600 having diagonal slot openings may be in a folded configuration, from which the drip tray 100 of FIG. 1 may be assembled. The drip tray 600 may also share all the same features as the drip tray 300 in FIG. 3. The drip tray 600 may include a base 612 (see also the base 112 in FIG. 1, the base 212 in FIG. 2, and the base 313 in FIG. 3), a first side wall 616 (see also the first side wall 116 in FIG. 1, the first side wall 216 in FIG. 2, and the first side wall 316 in FIG. 3), a second side wall 618 (see also the second side wall 118 in FIG. 1, the second side wall 218 in FIG. 2, and the second side wall 318 in FIG. 3), a third side wall 620 (see also the third side wall 120 in FIG. 1, the third side wall 220 in FIG. 2, and the third side wall 318 in FIG. 3), and a fourth side wall 622 (see also the fourth side wall 122 in FIG. 1, the fourth side wall 222 in FIG. 2, and the fourth side wall 322 in FIG. 3).

[0043] Furthermore, the base 612 may include diagonal slot openings 624, 626, 628, and 630. The diagonal slot opening 624 may be near the corner 638 of the base 612, the diagonal slot opening 626 may be near the corner 634 of the base 612, the diagonal slot opening 628 may be near the corner 632 of the base 612, and the diagonal slot opening 630 may be near the corner 636 of the base 612. Also, the diagonal slot opening 624 may have a vertex 640, the diagonal slot opening 626 may have a vertex 642, and the vertices 640 and 642 may form a virtual line that may be parallel to a virtual line connecting the corner 638 and the corner 634. Additionally, the diagonal slot opening 628 may have a vertex 644, the diagonal slot opening 630 may have a vertex 646, and the vertices 644 and 646 may form a virtual line that may be parallel to or aligned with a virtual line connecting the corner 632 and the corner 636. The slot openings may be in the shape of a square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, star, and / or any combination thereof.

[0044] Figure 7 is a diagram of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray having a universal opening, which is consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 7, the drop tray 700 having a universal opening may be in a folded configuration, and from this configuration, the drop tray 100 of Figure 1 may be assembled. The drop tray 700 may also share all the same features as the drop tray 300 in Figure 3. The drop tray 700 may include a base 712 (see also the base 112 of Figure 1, the base 212 of Figure 2, and the base 313 of Figure 3), a first side wall 616 (see also the first side wall 116 of Figure 1, the first side wall 216 of Figure 2, and the first side wall 316 of Figure 3), a second side wall 718 (see also the second side wall 118 of Figure 1, the second side wall 218 of Figure 2, and the second side wall 318 of Figure 3), a third side wall 720 (see also the third side wall 120 of Figure 1, the third side wall 220 of Figure 2, and the third side wall 318 of Figure 3), and a fourth side wall 722 (see also the fourth side wall 122 of Figure 1, the fourth side wall 222 of Figure 2, and the fourth side wall 322 of Figure 3).

[0045] Furthermore, the base 712 may include an edge 724 that may be shared with the first side wall 716, an edge 726 that may be shared with the second side wall 718, an edge 728 that may be shared with the third side wall 728, and an edge 730 that may be shared with the fourth side wall 722. Also, the base 712 may include a universal opening. Due to the universal opening, the drop tray 700 may be adapted to interfaces for various configurations for different high chairs, footrests, automobile seats, or any other functionally similar devices for children.

[0046] The universal opening may include a pair of four first small circular openings 732, four large circular openings 734, and two rectangular openings 736. The universal opening may be of various shapes such as oval, square, triangular, trapezoidal, star-shaped, and / or any other combination thereof. Furthermore, the universal opening may be centered between the edges 728 and 730. Additionally, the universal opening may be offset so as to be disposed near the edge 724 and away from the edge 726.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a cut-away blank sheet of a drop tray that can be attached without removing the legs of the high chair, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the drop tray 800 may be in a folded configuration, from which it is the drop tray 100 of FIG. 1. Further, the drop tray 800 may be assembled to the high chair without removing the legs of the high chair. The drop tray 800 may have holes 860, 861, 862, and 863 that may be in the same positions as the holes in the drop tray 300 of FIG. 3. The holes 860 - 863 may be circular, oval, square, rectangular, and / or any combination thereof in shape.

[0048] Further, via paths 864 and 865, the legs of the high chair may be inserted into the drop tray 800. The drop tray 800 is fixed below the high chair by a clipping action incorporated into the holes 860 - 863. Region 866 may be under the high chair seat to catch food, spills, plates, and / or utensils. Also, the peripheral sidewalls or margins 867, 868, and 869 may form a dish shape when the drop tray 800 is fixed below the high chair and above the floor by a clipping action incorporated into the holes 860 - 863. The clipping action incorporated into the holes 860 - 863 is performed on one or more legs of the high chair without the need to disassemble one or more legs from the high chair.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a molded or thermoformed drop tray attached to a high chair, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the drop tray 900 may be an assembly of the drop tray 100 of FIG. 1, the drop tray 200 of FIG. 2, the assembled drop tray 300 of FIG. 3, the assembled drop tray 600 of FIG. 6, the assembled drop tray 700 of FIG. 7, and the assembled drop tray 800 of FIG. 8. The high chair 911 may have four spread legs 912, 913, and 914 (the fourth spread leg is not shown).

[0050] The high chair may have a high chair seat 915, a backrest portion 916, and a table 917. With respect to the typical legs 912, each leg may fit within a socket 918. The socket 918 may be threaded or may have a push button release, whereby the spread legs can be removed from or separated from the seat.

[0051] Once the extended legs are removed or separated, the drop tray 900 may be attached to the high chair. The sizes of the holes 919, 920, 921, and 922 in the drop tray 900 (see also one or more openings 140 in FIG. 1, one or more openings 218 in FIG. 2, four openings 340 in FIG. 3, the diagonal slot openings 624, 626, 628, and 630 in FIG. 6, the general-purpose openings in FIG. 7, or the holes 860, 861, 862, and 863 in FIG. 8) may be set to fit the extended legs of the high chair. The extended legs may be removed or separated from the seat and may be supplied through holes 919, 920, 921, and 922 (not shown), and the high chair and legs may be reassembled at a location where the drop tray 900 can be below the high chair seat and above the floor. The drop tray 900 may be of a simple and efficient design that can provide a secure fit since there may be no complex fixtures to the high chair that can fail. The extended legs and holes 919, 920, 921, and 922 may be positioned such that the height of the drop tray 900 can be set in a wedge format. The drop tray 900 may be positioned at a height sufficient to provide a footrest for the child. The outer perimeter of the drop tray 900 (see also the base and the plurality of rising sidewalls in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and the surrounding sidewall or margin in FIG. 8) must be no less than an overhead cone, pyramid, cube, or volume determined by the reach of the infant in order to increase the likelihood of capturing spilled food or liquid, plates, and / or utensils at a high rate. Most food can fall from the side of the high chair. In one embodiment, the drop tray 900 may have a uniform margin (see also the base and the plurality of rising sidewalls in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and the surrounding sidewall or margin in FIG. 8) to catch food, spills, plates, and / or utensils around the chair, or the drop tray 900 may be biased to have more margin to catch food, spills, plates, and / or utensils around the high chair seat 915 and the table 917.The lower the drip tray 900 is positioned, the wider the margin can be for catching food, spills, plates, and / or utensils. For example, the drip tray may be approximately 200 mm below the high chair seat 915 of the high chair.

[0052] In one embodiment, the high chair 911 may have one or more legs that can be separated from the high chair 911.

[0053] In another embodiment, the drip tray 900 may be attached to four spread legs 912, 913, and 914 (the fourth spread leg is not shown). In this case, the drip tray 900 may be integrated with the high chair 911 in that the four spread legs and the drip tray 900 cannot be separated. The fact that the drip tray 900 is integrated with the high chair 911 may mean that the drip tray 900 and the four spread legs may be inseparable, or the drip tray 900 may be pre-formed by the four spread legs of the high chair 911 and / or the high chair 911, in which case the four spread legs of the high chair 911 and / or the high chair may be formed from the same material.

[0054] In another embodiment, the high chair 911 may have one or more legs that can be attached to the drip tray 900. In this case, the drip tray 900 may be integrated with the high chair 911 in that the one or more legs and the drip tray 900 cannot be separated. The fact that the drip tray 900 is integrated with the high chair 911 may mean that the drip tray 900 and the one or more legs may be inseparable, or the drip tray 900 may be pre-formed by the one or more legs of the high chair 911 and / or the high chair 911, in which case the one or more legs of the high chair 911 and / or the high chair may be formed from the same material.

[0055] In still other embodiments, the scope of the margin that catches spills, plates, and / or utensils of food or liquid may be optimized by having generally a dish shape or a curved configuration. In still other embodiments, the sides or margins of the drop tray 900 (see also the multiple raised side walls in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and the peripheral side wall or margin in FIG. 8) may be between 10 and 90 degrees from a horizontal axis parallel to the base 927 of the drop tray 900. The angle of the sides of the drop tray 900 may vary around the high chair. In this case, the rear side of the high chair may not require an angle, and the front and side sides of the high chair may require an angle with respect to the sides of the drop tray 900. Also, the sides 923, 924, 925, and 926 may form a dish around the base 927, and the sides 923, 924, 925, and 926 may serve an additional function when the drop tray 900 is formed using a thin flexible plastic sheet. In this form, the drop tray 900 can be usefully operated manually. For example, the corner 928 (see also the first corner side wall, the second corner side wall, the third corner side wall, or the fourth corner side wall in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and the peripheral side wall or margin in FIG. 8) may be pulled down to form an effective spout for the liquid trapped within the drop tray 900. The sides 923, 924, 925, and 926 of the drop tray 900 may also be pulled down similarly to assist in the removal or cleaning of food. Arbitrarily pulling down the drop tray 900 may not damage the drop tray 900 because the sides 923, 924, 925, and 926 bounce back. In one embodiment, the material of the drop tray 900 may be 1.2 mm of food-safe polypropylene, but other materials may be used.

[0056] In another embodiment, the drop tray 900 may include drain holes that are not disposed over the holes 919, 920, 921, and 922. The drain holes may have plugs that can be removed to pour spills, liquids, and / or food through the drain holes into the trash can.

[0057] The dish-shaped configuration can provide an easy way to remove food trapped on the corners 928. However, the drop tray 900 may be cleaned by disassembling it in place to its cut blank sheet form, and then, after drying, the drop tray 900 may be reassembled again.

[0058] In other embodiments, the cut blank sheet-shaped drop tray 900 may be placed inside a dishwasher. In yet other embodiments, the drop tray 900 may be two or more pieces constructed together to fit around a high chair, footrest, car seat, or any other functionally similar device for children.

[0059] FIG. 10A is a view of a drop tray on a two-legged high chair, consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the drop tray 1000A may have holes 1031 and 1032 (see also one or more openings 140 in FIG. 2, slot openings 532 and 534 in FIG. 5) for receiving the angular legs 1035 and 1036 of the high chair 1037. The drop tray 1000A may be positioned on the high chair 1037 below the seat 1038 and above the floor 1033.

[0060] Figure 10B is a rear view of a drop tray on a two-legged high chair clipped onto a footrest of a high chair, consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 10B, a rear view of Figure 10A may be shown. The drop tray 1000B (see also the drop tray 1000A of Figure 10A, the drop tray 200 of Figure 2, and the drop tray 500 of Figure 5) may accommodate the angular legs 1052 and 1054 of the high chair 1056. The high chair 1056 may include a footrest 1058, a seat 1060, and a backrest 1062. The footrest 1058 may be positioned above the floor 1064 and below the seat 1060. The drop tray 1000B may be positioned below the seat 1060 on the high chair 1056 and above the floor 1064. The drop tray 1000B may be positioned to be placed on the footrest 1058. The drop tray 1000B may include one or more tabs or clips 1066 connected to a base 1068 of the drop tray 1000B. The one or more tabs or clips 1066 may contact or connect with a rear surface 1070 (and / or side and front surfaces) and / or a base 1072 of the footrest 1058 to prevent the drop tray 1000B from slipping off the footrest 1058. The one or more tabs or clips 1066 may be in the shape of a space, square, rectangle, triangle, hook, and / or any other shape that can function to contact or connect with the rear surface 1070 and / or the base 1072 of the footrest 1058.

[0061] FIG. 11 is a view of a drop tray for a two-legged high chair having an open backrest with two slots for sliding on a chair, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the drop tray 1100 (see also the drop tray 100 of FIG. 1, the drop tray 200 of FIG. 2, the drop tray 300 of FIG. 3, the drop tray 500 of FIG. 5, the drop tray 600 of FIG. 6, the drop tray 700 of FIG. 7, the drop tray 900 of FIG. 9, the drop tray 1000A of FIG. 10A, and the drop tray 1000B of FIG. 10B) may include a base 1102, a front wall 1104, a left wall 1106, a right wall 1108, a left front corner wall 1110, and a right front corner wall 1112. The drop tray 1100 may not have a rear wall, a left rear wall, or a right rear wall in a rear region 1114 of the drop tray 1100. The left front corner wall 1110 may include a deformable tab clip 1116 that can be inserted into a slit in the front wall 1104. The right front corner wall 1112 may include a deformable tab clip 1118 that can be inserted into a slit in the front wall 1104. The deformable tab clip 1116 may connect the left wall 1106 and the left front corner wall 1110 to the front wall 1104. The deformable tab clip 1118 may connect the right wall 1108 and the right front corner wall 1112 to the front wall 1104. The base 1102 may be connected to the front wall 1104, the left wall 1106, and the right wall 1108. The base 1102 may include one or more slots 1120, and each of the one or more slots 1120 may include a slit opening 1122 that can extend from the one or more slots 1120 to the rear region 1114. The slit opening 1122 may allow the drop tray 1100 to be slid and adapted onto a high chair, one or more legs of a high chair, a footrest, a bumper seat, an automobile seat, and / or a chair without the need to remove any legs. For example, the drop tray 1100 may be the drop tray 1000B in FIG. 10B, and the drop tray 1100 may be placed on the footrest 1058.The rear region 1114 of the drop tray 1100 may face the rear of the high chair 1056 (see FIG. 10B) such that the left side wall 1106, the right side wall 1108, the left front corner side wall 1110, the right front corner side wall 1112, and the front side wall 1104 can surround and extend beyond the seat 1060 (see FIG. 10B). The drop tray 1100 may also include one or more tabs or clips 1066 (see FIG. 10B). The one or more tabs or clips 1066 may be connected to the base 1102 of the drop tray 1100 (see FIG. 10B). The one or more tabs or clips 1066 may contact or connect with the rear surface 1070 (and / or the side and front surfaces) and / or the base 1072 of the footrest 1058 (see FIG. 10B) to prevent the drop tray 1100 from slipping off the footrest 1058. Each of the one or more slots 1120 may include a folding portion 1124 that can be attached to the base 1102 and the slit opening 1122 behind the one or more slots 1120. The folding portion 1124 may fix the drop tray 1100 to one or more legs, footrests, high chairs, bumper seats, automobile seats, and / or chairs.

[0062] In one embodiment, the drop tray 1100 may be thermoformed from a single continuous material without the need for deformable tab clips 1116. This is because the left side wall 1106, the base 1102, the right side wall 1108, the left front corner side wall 1110, the right front corner side wall 1112, and the front side wall 1104 may be one continuous material. Further, the drop tray 1100 may be thermoformed to include one or more tabs or clips 1066 on the base 1102.

[0063] The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Numerous modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein has been chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application to technologies found in the marketplace, or the technological improvement, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0064] Specific features of the present disclosure that have been described in the context of separate embodiments for clarity may be combined in a single embodiment. Conversely, the various features of the invention that have been described in the context of a single embodiment for brevity may be provided separately, or in any suitable subcombination, or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the present disclosure. Specific features described in the context of various embodiments should not be considered essential features of those embodiments, except where an embodiment would not operate without those elements.

Claims

1. 1. A device for capturing spills or objects, said device comprising: a drop tray configured for use with a chair, high chair, or booster; the drop tray is configured to be positioned above the floor and below the chair, the high chair, or the booster seat; the drop tray is configured to contact one or more legs or stands; The drop tray further comprises: one or more upper perimeters defining the drop tray; one or more sidewalls adjacent the one or more upper peripheries; one or more differentially located openings; The apparatus, wherein the drop tray is configured to be secured to the chair, the high chair, the booster, or the one or more legs or stands without disassembly of the one or more legs or stands.

2. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more specifically positioned openings are configured to secure the drop tray to the one or more legs or stands of the chair, high chair, or booster.

3. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more differentially positioned openings are configured to secure the drop tray to a footrest of the chair, high chair, or booster.

4. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more specifically positioned openings are universal openings for coupling with different configurations of the chair, the high chair, or the booster.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drop tray further comprises at least one slit or slot for assembly of the drop tray.

6. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more specifically positioned openings include at least one slit or slot for securing the drop tray to the chair, high chair, or booster.

7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the one or more differentially positioned openings is located in the one or more side walls.

8. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the drop tray is secured to the chair, high chair, or booster by folding, deforming, clipping, snapping, inserting, or integrating.

9. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein a first distance measured from one of the one or more differentially positioned openings to a nearest first portion of the one or more upper peripheries is greater than a second distance measured from a second portion of the one or more upper peripheries opposite the nearest first portion of the upper periphery to a nearest one of the one or more differentially positioned openings.

10. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more side walls begins below the seat of the chair, high chair, or booster and extends radially beyond the periphery of the chair, high chair, or booster.

11. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more side walls start beyond at least one of a front edge, a right edge, or a left edge of the chair, high chair, or booster.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the one or more side walls is in the shape of at least one of a square, a rectangle, a circle, a triangle, a trapezoid, or an oval.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drop tray is formed from a continuous material.

14. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more side walls are resiliently deformable to an operating position.

15. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drop tray has a dish-shape or a curved configuration.

16. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the one or more openings has a localized surface area that is raised above a surface of the drop tray base.

17. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the drop tray comprises a continuous curved surface from a lower region beneath the chair, high chair, or booster to at least a portion of the one or more upper peripheries.

18. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more side walls further include two or more edges, and at least two of the two or more edges are connected to one another to transform the drop tray from a substantially flat shape to a three-dimensional shape.

19. 1. A method for capturing spills or objects, said method comprising: providing a drop tray and a chair, high chair, or booster; the drop tray is configured to contact one or more legs or stands; The drop tray is one or more upper peripheries; one or more sidewalls adjacent the one or more upper peripheries; one or more differentially positioned openings; inserting the one or more legs or stands into the one or more specifically positioned openings in the drop tray; positioning the drop tray above the floor and below the chair, high chair, or booster seat; The method, wherein the drop tray is secured to the chair, the high chair, the booster, or the one or more legs or stands without disassembly of the one or more legs or stands.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more differentially positioned openings are configured to secure the drop tray to the one or more legs or stands of the chair, high chair, or booster.

21. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more differentially positioned openings are configured to secure the drop tray to the footrest of the chair, the high chair, or the booster.

22. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more specifically located openings are universal openings for connecting with different configurations of the chair, the high chair, or the booster.

23. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the drop tray further comprises at least one slit or slot for assembly of the drop tray.

24. 22. The method of any one of claims 19-21, wherein the one or more differentially positioned openings include at least one slit or slot for securing the drop tray to the chair, high chair, or booster.

25. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one of the one or more differentially positioned openings is located in the one or more side walls.

26. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the drop tray is secured to the chair, high chair, or booster by folding, deforming, clipping, snapping, inserting, or integrating.

27. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein a first distance measured from one of the one or more differentially located openings to a nearest first portion of the one or more upper peripheries is greater than a second distance measured from a second portion of the one or more upper peripheries opposite the nearest first portion of the upper periphery to a nearest one of the one or more differentially located openings.

28. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one of the one or more side walls starts below the seat of the chair, high chair or booster and extends radially beyond the periphery of the chair, high chair or booster.

29. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more side walls start beyond at least one of a front edge, a right edge, or a left edge of the chair, high chair, or booster.

30. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one of the one or more side walls is in the shape of at least one of a square, a rectangle, a circle, a triangle, a trapezoid, or an oval.

31. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the drop tray is formed from a continuous material.

32. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more side walls are resiliently deformable to an operating position.

33. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the drop tray has a dish shape or a curved configuration.

34. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one of the one or more openings has a localized surface area that is raised above a surface of the drop tray base.

35. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the drop tray comprises a continuous curved surface from a lower region beneath the chair, high chair, or booster to at least a portion of the one or more upper peripheries.

36. 22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more side walls further include two or more edges, and at least two of the two or more edges are connected to one another to transform the drop tray from a substantially flat shape to a three-dimensional shape.

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