U.S. patent application number 10/237534 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for tray with skirt.
Invention is credited to Loh, Bill.
Application Number | 20030146223 10/237534 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46281157 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030146223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loh, Bill |
August 7, 2003 |
Tray with skirt
Abstract
A tray being a panel with depressions where each depression is a
compartment for holding a group of items distinct from items in
other groups. A skirt is provided having a rim that is engaged with
the rim of the tray and usually preferably long enough to conceal
the underside of the depressions. The skirt is preferably paper to
reduce cost. Messages such as advertisements or labels for the
items in the compartments are printed on the outside surface of the
skirt in clear view of the user or passerby. The skirt, being
paper, is economical to replace when a change in the message is
required.
Inventors: |
Loh, Bill; (Alameda,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert S. Smith
1263 Emory St.
San Jose
CA
95126
US
|
Family ID: |
46281157 |
Appl. No.: |
10/237534 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10237534 |
Sep 7, 2002 |
|
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10067007 |
Feb 4, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/575 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/575 |
International
Class: |
B65D 069/00; B65D
071/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An organizer for separately holding items, which comprises: a
tray section having a rim; a skirt section including four side
panels, each panel having one edge coincident with an edge of one
neighboring panel and another edge coincident with an edge of
another neighboring panel, said four side panels forming a frame
without a floor and having a skirt rim including four edges of said
panels; said rim of said tray section dimensioned to engage said
skirt rim said tray section being a panel with a plurality of
depressions, each depression dimensioned to permit holding special
items.
2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said skirt is made of paper
3. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said skirt is made of
corrugated paper.
4. The organizer of claim 1 wherein an outside visible surface of
said skirt is imprinted with at least one of alpha-numeric figures
and designs.
5. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said skirt has a length
selected to conceal a view of an underside of said depressions when
said tray section is mounted on said skirt section.
6. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said items are food.
7. The organizer of claim 1 wherein at least one of said
depressions is dimensioned to hold a quantity of liquid equivalent
to one cup.
8. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said tray section is made of a
plastic.
9. The organizer of claim 22 wherein said tray section is made of a
metal.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO EARLIER FILED INVENTIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 10/067,007 filed Feb. 4, 2002 from which priority is
claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to trays and to an organizer (tray)
for holding various items in separate compartments of the tray.
When the items are food, the tray enables the user to hold the food
in one hand leaving the other hand free for eating or other
purposes.
BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
[0003] Trays with compartments are used for many situations
particularly where fast and convenient access to the items is
required. Such situations include storage of groups of items on a
shelf wherein all members of a group are identical yet items of
each group are different from items of another group. For example,
it is often desirable in a hardware store to store all screws in
one area though it is required to keep screws of a given size
separate from screws of another size.
[0004] Food trays are particularly useful for situations where the
diner is not able or desirous to sit down at a typical dinner table
or where there is a requirement to transport a meal from the
kitchen to a remote location. Meals for such occasions are
typically of the fast food variety, particularly "finger food" such
as kebobs (meat and/or vegetables on a stick) potatoes, crackers,
etc. Balancing a beverage on such occasions is a particular
challenge. The problem is further complicated by the occasional
need to have a free hand such as for answering a cell phone,
greeting an attendee at a party, etc.
[0005] A number of disclosures have appeared related to the
problem.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,026 B1 discloses a utility food tray
having a shallow food section and an aperture for receiving a
beverage container and has downwardly extending legs.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,302 discloses a "chip and dip" tray that
nests a beverage container with a bag of chips.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,232 discloses a box for transporting
food including a lid with a depression for holding a beverage
cup.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,139 discloses a tray with a food and
beverage section and a bottomward extending handgrip.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,784 disclose a bottom tray hingably
attached to a lid arranged to prevent spillage.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,944 discloses a food bowl integrally
joined to a section having a depression for receiving a beverage
cup.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,119 discloses a tray with appendages
arranged to stabilize the tray on the user's lap.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,042 discloses a combination tray for
carrying a drink container and a food container.
[0014] Identification of items stored in the compartments is often
a problem. Furthermore, there is often a situation where it is
desired to attract attention to the item in the tray. The problem
is further complicated when any given tray will be used to store a
variety of groups of items on one occasion and a different varitety
on another occasion. Such a problem arises in dispensing food when
a menu change takes place. On consecutive days or even from one
mealtime to the next.
[0015] None of the trays disclosed provide the convenience for
arranging and dispensing types of items and displaying a
description or advertisement of the items wherein the description
or advertisement can be changed as the need arises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] It is an object of this invention to provide a tray that is
compartmentalized to enable a user to store items in various
compartments.
[0017] It is another object to provide a means for displaying or
advertising designs and text that boldly inform the user of the
contents of the tray.
[0018] It is another object that the medium for displaying the
designs and text be inexpensive and separable from the storage
medium of the items so that storage medium can be used successively
for various items and only the relatively inexpensive display
medium need be changed.
[0019] In particular, it is an object to provide a tray that would
be advantageous for dispensing fast food items including beverages.
In this situation, it is desirable to accommodate the user holding
the tray in one hand while the other hand is free.
[0020] This invention is directed toward a tray being a panel with
depressions. The depressions have various shapes to accommodate
storage of various items such as beverage. The tray is fitted with
a skirt that is secured around the rim of the tray. The skirt is
replaceable and made of paper or a similar medium that is
relatively inexpensive and conveniently imprintable with suitable
text and decorations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 shows the tray with skirt of this invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the tray poised for attachment to the
skirt.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tray with skirt
attached.
[0024] FIGS. 4A-C show views of the skirt in three stages of
fold.
DISCUSSION OF A BEST MODE
[0025] Turning now to a discussion of the drawings, FIG. 1
illustrates this invention comprising a tray section and a skirt
section.
[0026] In FIG. 2 the tray section 39 is poised for positioning on
the :skirt: section. 51 so that the rim of the tray section engages
a rim of the skirt section.
[0027] As shown by the sectional view of FIG. 3, The tray section
39 is a plastic panel with a plurality of depressions. 53,55,
dimensioned for various purposes. Engagement of the rim 57 of the
tray section 39 with the rim 59 of the skirt section 51 is
shown.
[0028] The tray design of FIG. 2 is particularly convenient for
dispensing food and beverage. One depression 53 is intended for
holding the beverage. The user drinks from the depression with a
straw.
[0029] Other depressions 55 are dimensioned for holding solid foods
such as French fries, kebobs, etc.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows the skirt section 51 being a frame of four
panels, 51A, 51B, 51C, 51D with no floor panel.
[0031] FIG. 4A is a top view of the skirt with the skirt 51
completely open. FIG. 4B is a top view of the skirt 51with the
skirt 51 partially folded. FIG. 4C is a top view of the skirt with
the skirt 51 folded completely closed.
[0032] The skirt has several important properties.
[0033] Preferably, the skirt is made of paper which is relatively
inexpensive. In another embodiment, the skit is made of corrugated
paper, which has the advantage of strength and low thermal
conductivity. The flattened skirt takes very little storage space
when the skirts are stored as a stack of skirts.
[0034] Printing can be applied to the outside of the skirt
rendering the combination tray on skirt very attractive. Another
advantage of printing on a paper skirt is that various messages can
advertise the "special meal of the day" and when the meal is
changed, printing on the skirt can be used to advertise the
changes. The paper skirt is biodegradable.
[0035] In one embodiment, particularly advantageous for conveying
food where cost is an important consideration, the tray section is
plastic so that the tray can be made by well known processes such
as injection molding or vacuum molding.
[0036] However, in some circumstances such as when the tray is used
to convey hardware (e.g., display on a store shelf, the tray is a
metal, e.g., aluminum. and the tray can be made by stamping.
[0037] Variations and modifications of this invention may be
contemplated after reading the specification and studying the
drawings which are within the scope of this invention. I therefore
wish to define the scope of my invention by the appended
claims.
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