U.S. patent application number 13/113240 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-09 for detachable support and serving tray.
Invention is credited to SUNEE WONGSUWANLERT RILEY.
Application Number | 20120031806 13/113240 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45555307 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120031806 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RILEY; SUNEE WONGSUWANLERT |
February 9, 2012 |
DETACHABLE SUPPORT AND SERVING TRAY
Abstract
A serving apparatus includes a serving tray, a detachable
support, and a support stem extending from the detachable support.
The detachable support temporarily assembles to the serving tray,
which may be configured as serving tray for serving food or drink,
or as an elevated serving platter.
Inventors: |
RILEY; SUNEE WONGSUWANLERT;
(Glendale, AZ) |
Family ID: |
45555307 |
Appl. No.: |
13/113240 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61401023 |
Aug 6, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/563 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 23/0633 20130101;
A47G 23/0208 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/563 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/06 20060101
A47G023/06 |
Claims
1. A serving apparatus, comprising: a serving tray; a detachable
support; and a support stem, the support stem extending from the
detachable support and configured to temporarily assemble to the
serving tray.
2. The serving apparatus of claim 1, the detachable support further
comprising: a holding structure, the holding structure forming a
top surface of the detachable support; and a plurality of drink
openings, the plurality of drink openings formed on the holding
structure.
3. The serving apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality
of identifiers, each of the plurality of identifiers formed on the
holding structure and corresponding to at least one of each of the
plurality of drink openings.
4. The serving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a
detachable support tab formed on an end of the support stem
opposite the detachable support, and a tray slot formed in the
serving tray, the tray slot being complementary to the detachable
support tab.
5. The serving apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detachable support
tab is configured to twistingly engage the tray slot from at least
one of a top side of the serving tray or a bottom side of the
serving tray.
6. The serving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support stem
assembles to the serving tray by an interference fit.
7. A serving apparatus, comprising: a serving tray; a tray slot
formed in the serving tray; a holding structure; a support stem; a
support, wherein the holding structure forms a top surface of the
support, and wherein the support stem connects the holding
structure to the tray slot; and a detachable support tab, the
detachable support tab on an end of the support stem and configured
to twistingly engage the tray slot.
8. The serving apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a cavity
formed on a top side of the detachable support, wherein a second
support stem of a second detachable support is configured to stack
into the cavity formed on the top side of the detachable
support.
9. The serving apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a plurality
of support vanes, the plurality of support vanes formed on a bottom
side of the support, and configured to interconnect the bottom side
of the holding structure to the support stem.
10. The serving apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the support stem is
a first material; and the holding structure is a second material
capable of elastic deformation.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent application Ser. No. 61/401,023, filed Aug. 6, 2010, the
entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to apparatus for
serving and presenting food or drinks, and more particularly, to a
detachable support and serving tray apparatus.
[0003] Some serving apparatus may not provide a stable support for
holding a plurality of drinks in a stable manner. Some serving
apparatus may not provide a detachable support that may allow the
apparatus to be used as both a serving tray and an elevated serving
platter.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for an improved serving
apparatus that may allow the apparatus to be used as a serving tray
having a stable support for holding a plurality of drinks or as an
elevated serving platter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a serving apparatus
is provided, the apparatus comprising a serving tray, a detachable
support, and a support stem extending from a bottom side of the
detachable support and configured to temporarily assemble to the
serving tray.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a serving
apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a serving tray, a
tray slot formed in the serving tray, a holding structure, a
support stem, a support, wherein the holding structure forms a top
surface of the support, and wherein the support stem connects the
holding structure to the tray slot, and a detachable support tab,
the detachable support tab on an end of the support stem and
configured to twistingly engage the tray slot.
[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of a detachable
support and serving tray according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded oblique perspective view of the
detachable support and serving tray of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective view of the detachable
support and serving tray of FIG. 1 in a second configuration;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a detail bottom view of the assembly of the
detachable support and serving tray of FIG. 1 in an unlocked
position;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a detail bottom view of the assembly of the
detachable support and serving tray of FIG. 1 in a locked
position;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the detachable support
shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the detachable support shown in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the detachable support shown
in FIG. 1; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross section view of a detachable support and
serving tray according to another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0018] Various inventive features are described below that can each
be used independently of one another or in combination with other
features.
[0019] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally
provide a support and serving tray apparatus that includes a
support for holding drinks or food items, the support being
detachably assembled to a serving tray by a support stem.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1, an oblique perspective view of a
detachable support and serving tray 10 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detachable support
and serving tray 10 may have a detachable support 12 assembled to a
top side of a slotted tray 14, which may be configured to hold or
support a drinking glass 16, for example.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded oblique perspective
view of detachable support and serving tray 10 of FIG. 1 is shown.
A dashed line illustrates a direction of assembly of detachable
support 12 to slotted tray 14. Detachable support 12 may have a
detachable support tab 18 formed or machined on an end thereof,
which may be configured to engage a tray slot 20, which may be
formed or machined in slotted tray 14. Detachable support tab 18
and tray slot 20 may be complementary and configured to have
interconnecting or interlocking elements Two arrows illustrate a
twisting or rotating of detachable support 12, which may secure or
cause detachable support tab 18 to engage tray slot 20.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, an oblique perspective view of
detachable support and serving tray 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in a
second configuration. Detachable support tab 18 may be assembled to
a bottom side of slotted tray 14 and configured such that portions
thereof may extend through tray slot 20 to a top side of slotted
tray 14. In this second configuration, the top side of slotted tray
14 may be an elevated serving platter.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, detail bottom views of an
assembly of detachable support 12 to slotted tray 14 are shown in
an unlocked and locked configuration respectively. Detachable
support tab 18 is shown assembled to, and extending through, tray
slot 20. Arrows shown in FIG. 4 indicate a rotation or direction of
assembly of detachable support tab 18, which may result in the
locked configuration shown in FIG. 5. In the locked configuration,
portions of detachable support tab 18 may twistingly engage slotted
tray 14. According to an exemplary embodiment, detachable support
tab 18 may be temporarily secured to tray slot 20 in the locked
configuration by an interference fit, for example.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, side perspective, top
plan, and bottom plan views of detachable support 12 of FIG. 1 are
shown respectively. Detachable support 12 may include a support
stem 26 that may extend from a holding structure 34 and
interconnect holding structure 34 to detachable support tab 18.
Holding structure 34 may form a top surface of detachable support
12 and may have a drink opening 30, which may be configured to hold
or grasp a drink, for example. A support vane 28 may extend from
support stem 26 and may provide structural support or stiffness for
holding structure 34. An identifier 36 may be formed or printed on
a top surface of holding structure 34 and may be associated with
drink opening 30. Identifier 36 may be used to label or identify a
drink (e.g., drinking glass 16) placed in an associated drink
opening 30. Holding structure 34 may have a cavity 32, formed
therein, which may extend down a length of support stem 26. Cavity
32 may allow nesting or stacking of a plurality of detachable
supports 12 for storage, whereby a support stem 26 of a first
detachable support 12 assembles to cavity 32 of a second detachable
support 12, for example. According to exemplary embodiments,
detachable support 12 may include a plurality of drink openings 30
and a plurality of support vanes 28.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 9, a cross section view of an assembly
of a detachable support and serving tray 11 according to another
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detachable
support and serving tray 11 may include a round opening tray 24,
which may have an aperture 38 formed therein, and may be configured
to accept a friction detachable support 22 therein. Friction
detachable support 22 may be assembled to an aperture 38 of round
opening tray 24 and held therein by an interference fit, for
example.
[0026] According to some exemplary embodiments, holding structure
34 may be a first material that may be configured to be flexible
and permit elastic deformation thereof. Support stem 26, support
vane 28, and detachable support tab 18 may be a second material
that may provide structural rigidity or support. Identifier 36 may
be a label that may be engraved, printed, embossed, etched, or
stamped on a surface of holding structure 34.
[0027] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
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