U.S. patent application number 09/873862 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-05 for covers for high chair trays and the like.
Invention is credited to Lewis, Jeff, Lewis, Tracy.
Application Number | 20020178975 09/873862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25362478 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020178975 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis, Tracy ; et
al. |
December 5, 2002 |
Covers for high chair trays and the like
Abstract
A cover (14) protects a food tray (12) and the like and provides
a sanitary environment on the tray for home, restaurant and travel
use. The cover includes a overlay portion (15) and a peripheral
portion (16). The material of the overlay portion, which is
substantially impermeable to liquid and which is positionable atop
the tray, has a span greater than that of the tray so that its
peripheral portion can extend beyond the edge of the tray. An
elastic material (16) is secured to or held within the peripheral
portion so that it can be wrapped underneath the tray and thereby
secure the cover to the tray. After use, the cover is removable
from the tray along with any liquid and solid material or other
mess that may exist on the cover.
Inventors: |
Lewis, Tracy; (Manhattan
Beach, CA) ; Lewis, Jeff; (Manhattan Beach,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lewis B. Sternfels
3100 Inglewood Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90066-1062
US
|
Family ID: |
25362478 |
Appl. No.: |
09/873862 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/90 ; 150/154;
150/158 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 1/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/90 ; 150/158;
150/154 |
International
Class: |
A47B 013/08; B65D
065/02; B65D 085/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cover for protecting food trays and the like including: a
overlay comprising material which is substantially impermeable to
liquid and which is positionable atop the tray having a span
greater than that of the tray and a peripheral portion extendible
therebeyond; and elastic material coupled to said peripheral
portion and disposed to wrap said peripheral portion underneath the
tray and thereby to secure said overlay thereto and to allow said
overlay and said elastic material to be slipped over the tray for
installation thereover and removal therefrom and, therefore, to
permit any liquid and solid material placed on said overlay to be
removed from the tray when said overlay and said elastic material
are removed from the tray.
2. A cover according to claim 1 in which said overlay is sized in
accordance with the shape of the tray.
3. A cover according to claim 1 in which said overlay consists of
polyethylene plastic material.
4. A cover according to claim 1 in which said elastic material is
continuously bound to said peripheral portion.
5. A cover according to claim 1 in which said peripheral portion
terminates in a tubular enclosure and said elastic material is
received within said enclosure.
6. A method for protecting food trays and the like comprising the
steps of: overlaying material which is substantially impermeable to
liquid atop a tray and which has a span greater than that of the
tray and a peripheral portion extendible therebeyond; and coupling
elastic material to the overlay adjacent its peripheral portion;
and disposing the peripheral portion underneath the tray and
thereby securing the overlay thereto to allow the overlay and the
elastic material to be slipped over the tray for installation of
the cover over the tray and for removal of the cover therefrom,
therefore to permit any material on the overlay to be removed from
the tray when the overlay and the elastic material are removed from
the tray.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not Applicable
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to covers for food trays and,
in particular, to covers for high chair trays and the like.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art and Other Considerations
[0007] Food trays, such as those incorporated with high chairs, are
subject to being soiled, such as from food, liquid and general
mess, which must be cleaned up. The general cleaning method is to
wipe the surface by a cloth, sponge or disposable wipe, rinse the
cloth or sponge or dispose of the wipe, and possibly repeating
these operations several times. Despite such cleaning, the surface
may not be made completely cleansed or sanitary to the user's
satisfaction. A disinfectant may be further employed to remove
germs. The result may satisfactory or not, to the detriment of the
next user of the tray. While this is a problem which exists in the
home, it becomes exacerbated in restaurant and other out-of-home
locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] These and other problems are successfully addressed and
overcome by the present invention. A sanitary cover is placed over
the tray and fastened to it, such as by means of a stretchable or
elastic medium, for example, by an springy band formed or otherwise
attached to the peripheral portion or edge portion of the material
of the cover. After food and/or liquid has been placed on the cover
overlaying the tray, or has been spilled onto the cover from a dish
or container, or any general mess is on the cover, the cleaning
operation is simple and easy. One need simply grip the elastic edge
portion from underneath the tray and fold them toward the center of
the cover. The mess and/or other debris is then contained within
the cover and is easily disposed of. The underlying tray remains
clean and sanitary. When away from the home either temporarily or
on an extended trip, the parent or other user may take several of
the covers along for use in restaurants or other establishments,
and feel assured of maintaining a sanitary food surface for the
child. Restaurants may also use such covers for their convenience
as well as for providing a service to its customers.
[0009] Several advantages are derived from this arrangement. Use of
a sanitary cover maintains the tray top sanitary. Removal of any
particulate or liquid matter or mess is easily and sanitarily
removed. The operation is quick and efficient, and avoids wiping or
other cleaning. The use of such covers is made convenient and,
perhaps necessary, when the need for a sanitary environment is
desired or necessitated when away from the home.
[0010] Other aims and advantages, as well as a more complete
understanding of the present invention, will appear from the
following explanation of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying
drawings thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a view of a high chair and tray in which a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as a
cover for the tray;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention placed
on an oversized or standard tray;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tray and cover such as
shown in FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of the tray and cover illustrated in
FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the tray and cover depicted in FIG.
3;
[0016] FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c are views of alternate shapes of the
inventive cover having oversized, standard and industrial or
restaurant patterns;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a profile of the cover;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of a portion of the cover shown in
FIG. 7 illustrating its elastic edge;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the cover depicted in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Accordingly, FIG. 1 depicts a highchair 10 provided with a
tray 12, both of which are conventionally constructed and attached
together, so that the tray may be secured to and removed from the
highchair. Examples of such trays are shown in FIGS. 2-5 as trays
12a, 12b and 12c, which may respectively comprise oversized,
conventional and industrial or restaurant trays. The remaining
components of the highchair are also of conventional construction,
and need not be further described herein. Tray 12 may formed any
shape, whether as specifically illustrated in FIG. 1, or otherwise
configured and commonly marketed, for example, as depicted in FIGS.
6a, 6b and 6c. It is to be understood, however, that the trays
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6a, 6b and 6c need not be devoted
exclusively to highchair use; they may be used alone and adapted to
the environment requiring their employ. The use, therefore, with a
highchair is solely described as exemplary.
[0021] A cover 14 is shaped to generally conform to the shape of
tray 12. The cover includes an overlay portion 15 and edge portion
or a peripheral portion 16, and is configured to be somewhat larger
than the tray to provide a peripheral portion or edge portion 16.
16 permit the cover to overlap tray 12 as best shown, for example,
in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cover may be made of a variable mil
polyethylene plastic material of approximate size 36".times.22" to
fit one conventionally obtainable tray, but it can be sized and
shaped to make it adaptable to fit any other tray.
[0022] Cover 14 is continuously bound along its peripheral portion
or edge 16 with an elastic material 18, as depicted in FIGS. 7-9,
so as to make peripheral portion 16 expandible and, thus, to allow
the cover to be easily slipped over the tray. Elastic edge 16 may
be formed as necessary. In FIG. 7, peripheral portion 16 comprises
a tubular enclosure 20 formed from folding the edge portion of the
cover material over an adjacent portion of the material and
stitching, welding or otherwise affixing the material portions
together. In FIG. 8, peripheral portion 16 comprises elastic
material 22 sewn or otherwise bound to the cover material at its
peripheral portion. FIG. 9 illustrates the underside of the cover
utilizing either of the configurations depicted in FIGS. 7 and
8.
[0023] In operation, the elastic peripheral portion generates
tension to keep the cover in place, and to protect the underlying
tray from food, liquids and general mess. It aids in clean up by
the ease with which it is removed; one needs simply to grip the
elastic edge portion from underneath the tray and fold the edge
portion towards the center of the cover. The mess or whatever is
one the cover is then contained therewithin and can be easily
disposed of.
[0024] Although the invention has been described with respect to
particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various
changes and modifications may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *