Tray device

Abstract

A tray is provided which includes a tray member manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. Such tray member includes at least one recessed portion formed integrally therein for receiving at least one of a bottom portion of a drink holding container, at least one food item, at least one condiment, and at least one packet of a predetermined condiment. Such at least one recessed portion has a predetermined depth and a second predetermined shape.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/000,220 filed Oct. 25, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to food trays and, more particularly, this invention relates to food trays having at least one recessed portion formed therein for receiving at least one of a predetermined consumable item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, trays, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to transport consumable items such as food and drink from cafeteria lines, kitchens, and the like to other locations so that such items may be consumed. Unfortunately drink items, cups, mugs, and like are difficult to balance on trays and may shake, slide, spill and fall if not balanced precisely. Balancing a tray can be difficult for children, weak and sick people, people with arthritis, hand afflictions and handicaps, and the like. Balancing a tray can also be difficult if such tray has various food and drink items thereon making the tray heavy and cumbersome. Therefore there is a need for a tray which incorporates recesses or pockets for securing drinks, cups, mugs, various food items, condiments, condiment packets, and the like.

[0004] Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following:

[0005] Lorenzana, et al, U.S. Design Pat. No. D311,662, discloses the ornamental design for a tray having a cupholder.

[0006] McSpadden, U.S. Design Pat. No. D368,627, discloses the ornamental design for a portable food tray with cup holder.

[0007] McSpadden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,070, discloses a portable food tray for supporting food and a drink container which is adapted to be securely and comfortably held by one hand of the user. The food tray is formed from a sheet material and has a generally flat surface portion and a cup-like portion for supporting a drink container. The peripheral outer edge portion of the tray has convex and concave side edge portions so that the concave portion can be held closely against the user's body. The tray includes two ribs that divide the flat surface portion into separate compartments and that serve to strengthen the tray.

[0008] McSpadden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,231, discloses a portable food tray for supporting food and a drink container which is adapted to be securely and comfortably held by one hand of the user. The food tray is formed from a sheet material and has a generally flat surface portion and a cup-like portion for supporting a drink container. The top of the cup-like portion is spaced a substantial distance above the flat surface portion so as to permit the "nesting" of the tray down onto the hand and to thereby permit the tray to be stabilized on the hand.

[0009] Stern, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,580, discloses a food and beverage tray defining a generally rectangular recess having at least one support member extending downwardly therefrom. The tray body further defines a center cup receptacle having a receptacle wall extending downwardly beyond the tray body. A pair of side cup receptacles are formed on opposed sides of the center cup receptacle. Such food and beverage tray is primarily meant to be supported on an armrest cupholder of a chair.

[0010] The aforementioned references do not provide the benefits attendant with the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a tray which includes a tray member manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. Such tray member includes at least one recessed portion formed integrally therein for receiving at least one of a bottom portion of a drink holding container, at least one food item, at least one condiment, and at least one packet of a predetermined condiment. Such at least one recessed portion has a predetermined depth and a second predetermined shape.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a tray which includes a drink container receiving portion disposed therein.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tray having a drink holder integrally formed therein for securely holding drink containers such as mugs, cups, drink boxes, drink pouches, and the like.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compartmentalized tray having a plurality of recessed portions disposed therein for holding any combination of drink containers, condiments, condiment packets, food items, and the like.

[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tray which has a recessed portion capable of encircling predetermined items in such recessed portion such that a user may carry such tray bearing such items without fear of spilling such items.

[0016] An additional object of the present invention is to provide an easy to balance tray which contains at least one recessed portion disposed therein for retaining a predetermined object within such at least one recessed portion in the event that a user is incapable of balancing such tray precisely parallel to the ground.

[0017] Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a tray for use in institutions, schools, cafeterias, restaurants, fast food chains, hospitals and the like where individuals transport food and drink items from one location to another.

[0018] In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective side view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which such device is stacked with other additional ones of such device.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a variety of consumables and their respective containers are contained within a plurality of recessed portion disposed within such tray member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

[0025] Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5.

[0026] A tray, generally designated 10, is provided which includes a tray member 12 manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a first predetermined shape.

[0027] It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is at least one of plastic, metal, wood, cellulose, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such predetermined material is plastic.

[0028] It is presently preferred that such first predetermined shape is at least one of a rectangle, a square, a circle, and an oval. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined shape is a rectangle.

[0029] Such tray member 12 includes at least one recessed portion 14 formed integrally therein for receiving at least one of a bottom portion 16 of a drink holding container 18, at least one food item 22, at least one condiment 24, and at least one packet of a predetermined condiment 26. Such at least one recessed portion 14 has a predetermined depth and a second predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such at least one recessed portion 14 is between about 1.0 inches and 2.0 inches deep. It is presently preferred that such second predetermined shape is generally frusto conical.

[0030] It is presently preferred that such at least one recessed portion 14 is located closely adjacent an edge 32 of such tray member 12.

[0031] It is presently preferred that such at least one recessed portion 14 includes at least one aperture 34 disposed therethrough for allowing drainage of spills, drips, and condensation run off from such drink holding container 18.

[0032] It is presently preferred that such tray member 12 includes a plurality of recessed portions 14 formed integrally therein for receiving such at least one of a bottom portion 16 of a drink holding container 18, at least one food item 22, at least one condiment 24, and at least one packet of a predetermined condiment 26.

[0033] It is presently most preferred that such tray member 12 includes four recessed portions 14 disposed therein and each of such recessed portions 14 is disposed in a corner portion 38 of such rectangular tray member 39 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0034] It is presently preferred that such tray member 12 includes a lip portion 42 disposed around an outer perimeter thereof.

[0035] It is presently preferred that a plurality of such trays 10 are stackable with each other as illustrated in FIG. 4. It is presently preferred that such tray 10 is washable. It is presently preferred that such tray 10 is at least one of disposable, reusable, and a combination thereof. It is presently preferred that such tray 10 is dishwasher safe.

[0036] It is presently preferred that such tray member 12 is between about 13.0 inches and 15.0 inches long. It is presently preferred that such tray member 12 is between about 10.0 inches and 12.00 inches wide. It is meant that such tray be a convenient size such that a user 33 may transport such tray easily and comfortably.

[0037] While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tray comprising a tray member manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a first predetermined shape, said tray member including at least one recessed portion formed integrally therein for receiving at least one of a bottom portion of a drink holding container, at least one food item, at least one condiment, and at least one packet of a predetermined condiment, said at least one recessed portion having a predetermined depth and a second predetermined shape.

2. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray member includes a lip portion disposed around an outer perimeter thereof.

3. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray member includes a plurality of recessed portions formed integrally therein for receiving said at least one of a bottom portion of a drink holding container, at least one food item, at least one condiment, and at least one packet of a predetermined condiment.

4. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is at least one of plastic, metal, wood, cellulose, and a combination thereof.

5. A tray according to claim 4 wherein said predetermined material is plastic.

6. A tray according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of said trays are stackable with each other.

7. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recessed portion includes at least one aperture disposed therethrough for allowing drainage of spills, drips, and condensation run off from such drink holding container.

8. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recessed portion is located closely adjacent an edge of said tray member.

9. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is washable.

10. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is at least one of disposable, reusable, and a combination thereof.

11. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined shape is at least one of a rectangle, a square, a circle, and an oval.

12. A tray according to claim 12 wherein said first predetermined shape is a rectangle.

13. A tray according to claim 12 wherein said tray member includes four recessed portions disposed therein and each of said recessed portions is disposed in a corner portion of said rectangle.

14. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is dishwasher safe.

15. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray member is between about 13.0 inches and 15.0 inches long.

16. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray member is between about 10.0 inches and 12.00 inches wide.

17. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recessed portion is between about 1.0 inches and 2.0 inches deep.

18. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said second predetermined shape is generally frusto conical.