U.S. patent application number 13/797206 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for packaging container and serving tray for shrimp and other foods.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAZZETTA COMPANY, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is MAZZETTA COMPANY, LLC. Invention is credited to Martin Mazzetta, Steven Swibel.
Application Number | 20130320025 13/797206 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49668988 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130320025 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mazzetta; Martin ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
Packaging Container and Serving Tray for Shrimp and Other Foods
Abstract
The present invention concerns a food packaging and serving tray
that generally includes an upper tray configured to support and
contain food items, and a base tray that receives the upper tray
and supports it in various positions. The base tray has a plurality
of attachment points located at at least two different heights
relative to the bottom of the base tray. The attachment points
serve to support and maintain the upper tray at at least two
different heights above the base tray. A first, lower height
corresponds to the serving tray being in a packaging state for when
the food items are being transported and displayed for purchase.
The second height corresponds to the serving tray being in a
serving state, when the food items are being served for consumption
by the consumer. During the serving state, the additional height
between the base tray and upper tray allows ice to be arranged in
the base tray in order to keep the food in the upper tray
chilled.
Inventors: |
Mazzetta; Martin; (Highland
Park, IL) ; Swibel; Steven; (Deerfield, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAZZETTA COMPANY, LLC |
Highland Park |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAZZETTA COMPANY, LLC
Highland Park
IL
|
Family ID: |
49668988 |
Appl. No.: |
13/797206 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61655886 |
Jun 5, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/574 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0233 20130101;
A47G 2019/005 20130101; B65D 1/34 20130101; B65D 81/3216 20130101;
A47G 19/02 20130101; A47G 23/0683 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/574 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/06 20060101
A47G023/06 |
Claims
1. A serving tray for packaging and serving food, the serving tray
comprising: a base tray, the base tray comprising: an outer wall
disposed along the periphery of the base tray; an inner wall
disposed concentric to the outer wall, the inner wall defining a
first well; a bottom surface extending between the outer wall and
the inner wall; and a plurality of first attachment points disposed
along the first well, wherein at least one of the first attachment
points is located at a first depth relative to a top of the inner
wall of the base tray and at least one of the first attachment
points is located at a second depth relative to the top of the
inner wall of the base tray, the first depth being different from
the second depth; and an upper tray, the upper tray comprising: an
outer wall disposed along the periphery of the upper tray; an inner
wall disposed concentric to the outer wall, the inner wall defining
a second well; a support surface extending between the outer wall
and the inner wall, the support surface configured to support food
items; and a plurality of second attachment points disposed along
the second well, the plurality of second attachments points located
at the same depth relative to a top of the inner wall of the upper
tray; wherein the serving tray is configured such that the upper
tray is at a first height relative to the base tray when the second
attachment points are in contact with the first attachment points
at a first depth and the upper tray is at a second height relative
to the base tray when the second attachment points are in contact
with the first attachment points at a second depth.
2. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the base tray and the upper
tray are generally circular in shape.
3. The serving tray of claim 2, wherein the inner wall of the base
tray and the inner wall of the upper tray are both generally
circular in shape.
4. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the support surface of the
upper tray is sloped from the inner wall of the upper tray downward
to the outer wall of the upper tray.
5. The serving tray of claim 4, wherein the support surface
includes a channel located at the junction of the support surface
and the outer wall of the upper tray.
6. The serving tray of claim 5, wherein the channel includes a
plurality of drain holes.
7. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the base tray is configured
to receive the upper tray.
8. The serving tray of claim 7, further comprising: a first rim
located on the top of the outer wall of the upper tray; and a
second rim located on the top of the outer wall of the base tray,
the second rim configured to receive the first rim when the upper
tray is received into the base tray.
9. The serving tray of claim 8, further comprising a lid configured
to cover the upper tray and to receive the first rim and the second
rim.
10. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the first well is
configured to receive the second well.
11. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the support surface of the
upper tray contains a plurality of ridges.
12. The serving tray of claim 11, wherein the plurality of ridges
are oriented radially outwards from the inner wall of the upper
tray.
13. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the support surface of the
upper tray further includes an elevated portion adjacent to the
inner wall of the upper tray.
14. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the support surface of the
upper tray is closer to the bottom surface of the base tray when
the upper tray is at the first height than when the upper tray is
at the second height.
15. The serving tray of claim 1 wherein the serving tray is
configured to store shrimp.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to food packaging
containers and serving trays. More specifically, the present
invention relates to a food packaging container and serving tray
suitable for a variety of foods that is compact, stable, and
provides for a way to keep food chilled while serving.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many food packaging containers and serving trays are known
today. In fact, nowadays, many serving trays begin as food
packaging containers in which the food is packaged and kept until
consumption. More recently, these serving trays have added the
capability of holding an associated condiment or a container filled
with the associated condiment. Such condiments may include, for
example, fruit dip, caramel sauce, hummus, shrimp cocktail sauce,
and the like.
[0003] Before food is packaged into or onto the serving tray, which
may double as a food packaging container, the food is typically
processed in some manner. With shrimp, for example, the
pre-packaging process typically involves peeling, deveining,
cooking, rinsing, and preserving the shrimp. Thereafter, the shrimp
may be arranged on the serving tray and frozen for shipment and
ultimate sale to consumers. More recent shrimp serving trays
facilitate packaging shrimp on their sides, which may be more
aesthetically pleasing than shrimp packaged on end.
[0004] Many pre-packaged food items, such as cut fresh fruit,
cooked shrimp and cold cuts, are shipped and sold in a frozen
state. Many such products are glazed with frozen water to preserve
freshness or otherwise accumulate frozen water during processing.
Foods shipped in containers used for both packaging and serving
purposes are typically thawed in-place by retail consumers prior to
consumption. While thawing, the frozen water turns to liquid and
can accumulate in the bottom of the container, potentially causing
the food to be served in while partially submerged in the liquid.
Various methods have been developed to separate the liquid from the
food, one of which is to use two interlocking trays that can be
separated. When together, the upper tray acts as support for the
food items and has drain holes that allow the liquid to pass
through to the second tray, where it can be collected.
[0005] While processed foods that are shipped frozen need to thaw
prior to being served, it is common that such foods also need to be
kept chilled while being served. One simple solution is to place
the serving tray inside another container that holds ice, resting
the tray directly on top of the ice. As the ice melts, however, the
serving tray may move around within the ice container, resulting in
a unstable surface from which to serve the food. The tray may even
tip over.
[0006] An attempt at a solution to the instability resulting from
the ice melting is to combine the two-tray system described above
as a serving system in which the lower tray can be used as a
receptacle for ice and the upper tray can then rest upon the ice
within the base tray. This solution, however, will still result in
the instability of the upper serving tray as the ice in the lower
tray melts. Further, as the ice melts and additional water
accumulates in the bottom tray, there is a possibility that the
upper tray will come to rest in the standing water of the lower
tray, causing water to then accumulate in the upper tray through
the drain holes.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need in the food industry for a
compact packaging and serving tray that provides for a way to keep
food separated from liquid accumulating as the food thaws and to
keep the tray stable and the food chilled while the food is being
served from the tray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention concerns a serving tray that may be
used for packing, storing, and serving food. While the present
invention contemplates that the serving tray may be used with a
wide variety of foods, one embodiment of the present invention
involves using the serving tray to package, store, and serve
cooked, ready-to-eat shrimp and cocktail sauce.
[0009] In general, the serving tray may include an upper tray and a
base tray that selectively cooperate with one another. The upper
tray is generally sized a little smaller than the base tray such
that the upper tray will fit inside the base tray. The upper tray
is arranged in at least two states relative to the base tray: a
packaged state and an elevated state. In the packaged state, the
upper tray rests substantially, but not completely, inside of the
base tray, such that a space remains between the bottom of the
upper tray and the bottom of the base tray. This arrangement is
optimal for shipping and storing. In the elevated state, primarily
for when the serving tray is used to serve food, a smaller portion
of the upper tray is inside of the base tray and a larger gap
exists between the bottom of the upper tray and the bottom of the
base tray. Ice can then be placed into the gap between the trays,
if desired, to help keep the food chilled.
[0010] More specifically, in one embodiment of the present
invention, the serving tray consists of two circular members. In
other embodiments, the members can be other shapes, such as square,
hexagon or octagon. The upper tray includes an outer wall disposed
around the periphery of the upper tray and an inner wall located
towards the center of the upper tray and concentric with the outer
wall. A support surface extends between the base of the outer wall
and the base of the inner wall. The support surface may support
food, while the outer wall may help retain the food on the support
surface and within the upper tray. The outer wall may be
particularly helpful where the food is stacked in layers. The inner
wall defines a well disposed at the center of the upper tray. The
well may be constructed to contain a condiment intended to be
served with the food. In the alternative, the well may receive a
container holding a condiment. A lid may be provided to cover and
further contain the food in the upper tray.
[0011] The base tray also includes an outer wall disposed around
the periphery of the base tray and an inner wall located towards
the center of the base tray and concentric with the outer wall. A
bottom surface extends between the base of the outer wall and the
base of the inner wall. The inner wall also defines a well on the
base tray that is sized to selectively receive the well of the
upper tray, particularly when the upper tray is in the packaged
state. The structure formed by the well, the bottom, and the outer
wall of the base tray may serve as a receptacle that catches runoff
from food in the upper tray as it thaws or while being served. The
base tray is also constructed to hold ice, as desired, to help keep
the food in the upper tray chilled.
[0012] In a further embodiment, attachment points may be disposed
in or along the wells and/or inner walls of the upper tray and base
tray. The attachment points of the base tray can be constructed to
support the attachment points of the upper tray. The attachment
points of the base tray are arranged at two or more different
depths, as measured from the top of inner wall of the base tray, so
that the upper tray can be maintained above the base tray at two or
more different heights. One set of attachment points on the well of
the base tray may correspond to the packaged state, for example,
while another set of attachment points on the well of the base tray
may correspond to the elevated state where ice may be placed under
the upper tray while the food is served. If ice is placed in the
base tray, while in the elevated state, the upper tray may rest on
the ice or on the attachment points of the base tray, whichever is
higher. In the case where the level of the ice is higher, the wells
of the upper tray and base tray are arranged such that the upper
tray will come to rest on the attachment points of the base tray as
the ice melts. Thus, the ice helps keep the food on the upper tray
chilled while serving and the upper tray remains stable as the ice
melts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further embodiments and aspects of the invention are
indicated in the figures and in the remaining description. The
invention will now be explained in a non-limiting manner by way of
examples depicted in the drawings. In the exemplary drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a food serving tray.
[0015] FIG. 1B is a side view of the food serving tray shown in
FIG. 1A.
[0016] FIG. 2A is a top view of an upper tray of the food serving
tray.
[0017] FIG. 2B is a side view of the upper tray of a food serving
tray shown in FIG. 2A.
[0018] FIG. 2C is a top view of one embodiment of a lid that may be
used with the food serving tray of FIGS. 1A-1B.
[0019] FIG. 2D is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the upper tray of the food serving tray.
[0020] FIG. 3A is a top view of a base tray of a food serving
tray.
[0021] FIG. 3B is a side view of the base tray of a food serving
tray shown in FIG. 3A.
[0022] FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the base tray of a food
serving tray shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
[0023] FIG. 4A is a top view of a food serving tray having upper
tray and base tray assembled in a serving configuration.
[0024] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the food serving tray
shown in FIG. 4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention relates generally to food packaging
containers and serving trays. It should be understood that a food
packaging container may also serve as a food serving tray, and vice
versa. For the sake of simplicity and as part of an effort to avoid
redundancy, this description will refer to a food serving tray that
may in some embodiments have been a food packaging container before
the food was ready for consumption. Conversely, the present
invention also contemplates that in some embodiments, the food
serving tray may not have been a food packaging container. For
example, one embodiment of a food serving tray may be
non-disposable and intended primarily for food serving, rather than
for food packaging.
[0026] Turning to the figures wherein like reference numerals
represent the same or similar elements, FIGS. 1A, 1B are a
perspective and side view, respectively, of a food serving tray 300
comprising an upper tray 100 and a base tray 200. In other
embodiments, the serving tray 300 may also include a lid, such as
the lid 111 shown in FIG. 2C and discussed further below. The upper
tray 100 and base tray 200 may be formed of plastic or other
materials, and may or may not be formed of the same material. In
the embodiments shown, each of the upper tray 100 and base tray 200
are typically comprised of a single sheet of material, such as a
single sheet of plastic. The upper tray 100 and base tray 200 are
generally the same shape, with the upper tray 100 configured to be
able to fit inside of the base tray 200. In the embodiment shown,
the upper tray 100 and base tray 200 are circular in shape, and
hence serving tray 300 is circular in shape. It should be
understood that the serving tray 300 as well as the upper tray 100
and base tray 200 may take on a variety of other shapes.
[0027] The upper tray 100, one embodiment of which is shown in
perspective view in FIG. 1A and in top and side views,
respectively, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, generally consists of a support
surface 102 extending between the base of an outer wall 112 and the
base of an inner wall 114. In the embodiment shown, there is an
elevated tier 124 surrounding the base of the inner wall 114. The
support surface 102 then extends from the base of the elevated tier
124, which is raised above the support surface 102. In other
embodiments, obviously, the support surface 102 can extend directly
from the base of the inner wall 114. The outer wall 112 is disposed
around the periphery of the upper tray 100, while the inner wall
114 is located towards the center of the upper tray 100 and is
concentric with the outer wall 112. In the embodiment shown, both
the outer wall 112 and the inner wall 114 are circular, but it
should be understood that other shapes are possible and that the
inner wall 114 may not be concentric with the outer wall 112. In
the embodiment shown, the height of the inner wall 114 is equal to
or less than the height of the outer wall 112. The support surface
102 supports a variety of foods that are served chilled and which
may or may not be packaged and shipped while frozen.
[0028] The support surface 102 is slightly too moderately sloped
from the inner wall 114 to the outer wall 112 and also includes a
channel 106 around the base of the outer wall 112. Having a sloped
support surface 102 will allow condensation, ice melt or other
runoff from food on the support surface 102 to travel towards the
channel 106. Channel 106 has one or more drain holes 108 that allow
such runoff to drain from the channel 106.
[0029] The support surface 102 also includes a plurality of grooves
104 oriented radially outwards from the inner wall 114 toward the
channel 106.. The plurality of grooves 104 assist in the draining
of liquid from thawing food located on the support surface 102. In
other embodiments the support surface 102 can additional include a
plurality of ridges (not shown) in place of or in conjunction with
the plurality of grooves 104 and the ridges can also be oriented
radially outwards from or concentric with the inner wall 114. The
ridges can help to maintain food in place along the support surface
102 during transportation and/or consumption.
[0030] The channel 106 is sized such that food cannot easily pass
into the channel 106. The drain holes 108 in the channel 106 are
particularly advantageous where the support surface 102 is angled
such that runoff from the food travels towards the channel 106 and
hence the drain holes 108. Runoff is seen especially with foods
that are thawed from a frozen state just prior to consumption.
Because the upper tray 100 of the serving tray 300 is typically
positioned above the base tray 200, the drain holes 108 allow
liquids from the upper tray 100 to pass into the base tray 200.
Drainage prevents buildup of liquids around the food on the support
surface 102.
[0031] The outer wall 112 helps maintain food within the upper tray
100 and on the support surface 102. The outer wall 112 is
especially useful where food is stacked or arranged in multi-layer
fashion on the support surface 102. In the embodiments shown in the
figures, the outer wall 112 is configured in a generally circular
shape and is outwardly sloped. In other embodiments, the outer wall
112 may be generally vertical.
[0032] At the top of the outer wall 112 there is a rim 110 which
serves at least two purposes when the serving tray 300 is
functioning as a food packaging container. First, the rim 110 is
concaved down and configured to rest on a rim 206 of the base tray
200 when the serving tray 300 is in a packaging orientation.
Second, the rim 110 may also be configured to mate with a
corresponding channel on a lid, such as lid 111 shown in FIG. 2C.
The lid 111 covers the food placed within the upper tray 100 before
consumption. The rim 110 is pressed into an outer channel 113
disposed along the circumference of the lid 111, serving to hold
the lid 111 in place. The lid 111 may be see-through such that the
food contained in the serving tray 300 is visible to consumers and
others. This is particularly advantageous where the food is
arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
[0033] The inner wall 114 further defines a well 116, located at or
near the center of the upper tray 100. The well 116 is capable of
holding a container of condiment, which can be served along with
any food on the support surface 102. Alternatively, a condiment may
be placed directly into the well 116 at the time of serving,
without a container. The condiment may be prepackaged with the food
in the serving tray 300, or the condiment may be sold separately
and added to the upper tray 100 at the time of consumption. The
well 116 consists of a vertical surface 117 and a well floor 119,
where the vertical surface 117 defines the contours of the well 116
within the inner wall 114. The well 116 also contains drain holes
108 in the well floor 119 to allow any condensation, runoff or ice
melt that may come into the well 116 to drain into the base tray
200. In the case where the well 116 contains condiment directly,
without a container, then no drain holes would likely be present in
the well 116.
[0034] A top surface 120 of the inner wall 114 is shaped and sized
such that it is sealed by an inner channel 115 on the lid 111.
Conversely, the top surface 120 of the inner wall 114 is sealed
with a separate cover (not shown) that encloses a condiment within
the well 116. The vertical surface 117 of the well 116 includes
attachment points 118 where the upper tray 100 is selectively
attached to, secured to, connected to, or otherwise supported by
the base tray 200. The attachment points 118 shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A
and the other figures are purely exemplary, and may be described as
cutouts, cavities, recesses, notches, carve-outs, or depressions in
the vertical surface 117 of the well 116. In the illustrated
embodiments, the attachment points 118 are shown as indentations in
the vertical surface 117, which cause mirror protrusions (not
shown) in the backside of the vertical surface 117 (away from the
well 116). Each attachment point 118 has a seat 122 and two sides
123 that are generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical
surface 117. The seat 122 is further generally parallel to the well
floor 119. The backside of the seats 122 and the side walls 123 are
in selective contact with a corresponding attachment point on the
base tray 200 of the serving tray 300. While the purpose and
functionality of the attachment points 118 are described in further
detail below, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the
attachment points 118 can take on a number of forms.
[0035] Another embodiment of an upper tray is shown in FIG. 2D. In
this embodiment, the upper tray 100' includes a second elevated
tier 126 surrounding the inner wall 114. The second elevated tier
126 is located between the first elevated tier 124 and the inner
wall 114. The elevated tier or tiers 124, 126 help arrange food
items, such as shrimp, for example, in tiered, horizontal displays.
Displaying shrimp and other food items in this manner may enhance
the visual appeal of the food and serving tray 300 generally.
[0036] An embodiment of the base tray 200 of the serving tray 300
is shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, showing top, side and perspective views,
respectively. Like the upper tray 100, the base tray 200 is formed
of plastic in some embodiments. In general, the size, shape, and
contour of the base tray 200 may to some degree parallel the size,
shape, and contour of the upper tray 100. While food is being
served from the serving tray 300, the base tray 200 can function
to, for example, hold ice that chills the food in the upper tray
100, support the upper tray 100 just above the ice, and catch
runoff from the food and condiments in the upper tray 100.
[0037] In the embodiment shown, the base tray 200 includes a bottom
surface 202 extending between the base of an outer wall 204 and the
base of an inner wall 210. The outer wall 204 is disposed around
the periphery of the base tray 200 and is generally vertical in
some embodiments, yet outwardly sloped in other embodiments. The
configuration of the outer wall 204 matches the configuration of
the outer wall 112 of the upper tray 100 in order for the upper
tray 100 to fit into the base tray 200.
[0038] The inner wall 210 is located toward the center of the base
tray 200 and is concentric with the outer wall 204. As shown, the
height of the inner wall 210 is equal to or less than the height of
the outer wall 204. The bottom surface 202, outer wall 204 and
inner wall 210 define a space in which ice can be stored while food
is served or consumed from the serving tray 300. While both the
outer wall 204 and the inner wall 210 are circular in the
embodiment shown, it should be understood that other shapes are
possible and that the inner wall 210 may be a different shape than
the outer wall 204.
[0039] A rim 206 is included at the top of the outer wall 204. The
size and shape of the rim 206 is complimentary with the size and
shape of the rim 110 of the upper tray 100 such that the rim 206 of
the base tray 200 can be selectively positioned within, or at least
adjacent to, the rim 110 of the upper tray 100. The outer channel
113 of the lid 111 is sized to clutch both the rim 110 of the upper
tray 100 and the rim 206 of the base tray 200. Accordingly, the lid
111 can keep the upper tray 100 and the base tray 200 intact prior
to serving.
[0040] A plurality of tabs 208 are disposed along the junction
between the bottom surface 202 and the outer wall 204. In one
embodiment, the plurality of tabs 208 may extend continuously
around the full circumference of the junction. In such an
embodiment, recessed inlets 216 can be formed in the spaces between
the tabs 208. In other embodiments, the plurality of tabs 208 may
only exist at various points along the junction between the bottom
surface 202 and the outer wall 204. When the upper tray 100 is
placed inside the base tray 200, the tabs 208 support the upper
tray 100, maintaining a space between the underside of the support
surface 112 and the bottom surface 202. This is particularly
helpful while frozen food is thawing before it is served.
Specifically, as food thaws, condensation otherwise may be released
and travel towards the drain holes 108 of the upper tray 100. As
the excess liquid flows into and collects in the base tray 200, the
space created by the tabs 208 keeps the food in the upper tray 100
away from the collected liquid. It should be noted that in an
embodiment having tabs 208 located continuously around the outer
wall 204, the spacing between drain holes 108 in the upper tray 100
can be purposefully aligned with the recessed inlets 216 between
the tabs 208 such that the tabs 208 do not plug the drain holes
108.
[0041] The inner wall 210 of the base tray 200 defines and
encircles a well 212 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C. At the top of the
inner wall 210 there is a flat upper surface 220. The inner wall
210 is approximately the same size as the inner wall 114 of the
upper tray 100, and the well 116 of the upper tray 100 is
configured to be disposed within the well 212 of the base tray 200.
Further, like the well 116 of the upper tray 100, the well 212 of
the base tray 200 consists of a vertical surface 213 and a well
floor 215, where the vertical surface 213 defines the contours of
the well 212 within the inner wall 210. The vertical surface 213
includes at least two sets of attachment points 214A and 214B where
the base tray 200 attaches to, secures to, connects to, or
otherwise supports the upper tray 100 at corresponding attachment
points 118. Although the attachment points 214A, 214B of the base
tray 200 are purely exemplary, they can be described as cutouts,
cavities, recesses, notches, carve-outs, or depressions in the
vertical surface 213 of the well 212. Similar to the attachment
points 118 on the upper tray 100, the attachments points 214A, 214B
are shown as indentations in the vertical surface 213. Each
attachment point 214A, 214B has a seat 218A, 218B and sides 222A,
222B, respectively. The seats 214A, 214B are generally flat and in
a plane parallel to the plane formed by the well floor 215. The
seats 218A, 218B contact the underside of the seats 122 of the
attachment points 118 on the upper tray 100, as shown in FIG. 4B
and described in more detail below.
[0042] The seats 218A of the first set of attachment points 214A in
the vertical surface 213 have a depth, as measured from the flat
upper surface 220 down, that is different from the depth of the
seats 218B of the second set of attachments points 214B. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C, there are three attachment points
214A and three attachment points 214B, alternating around the
vertical surface 213 between attachment points 214A, having a
deeper depth, and attachment points 214B, having a shallower. While
FIGS. 3A and 3C depict three attachment points at two different
depths, it should be understood that the present invention is in no
way limited to this embodiment nor is the relative difference in
the two depths limited to that shown in the figures. In other
embodiments, the base tray 200 may have more or less than three
attachment points at two or more different depths.
[0043] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a top and cut-out view, respectively,
of one embodiment of the serving tray 300 that includes the upper
tray 100 and the base tray 200 described above. The serving tray
300 is shown to be in an elevated state ready for serving food,
even though no food is shown. The attachment points 118 of the
upper tray 100 have been slidably engaged with three attachment
points 214B of the base tray 200 having the shallow depth. More
particularly, the undersides of the seats 122 of the attachment
points 118 on the upper tray 100 are resting on the seats 218B of
the attachment points 214B on the base tray 200. In this elevated
state, a volume 302 is created between the upper tray 100 and base
tray 200 in which ice (not shown) may be placed. Because the base
tray 200 supports the upper tray 100 at the attachment points 118,
214B, it is possible to arrange the upper tray 100 with the food so
it is not resting directly upon any ice in the volume 302. Upper
tray 100 may also float directly on the ice, in which case the
sides 222B of attachments points 214B may engage the sides 123 of
attachment points 118. Lateral movement of upper tray 100 with
respect to the base tray 200 can thus be curtailed while the upper
tray 100 is supported by the ice in the base tray 200. As the ice
melts and the height of the upper tray 100 lowers with respect to
the base tray 200, the seats 122 of attachment points 118 will come
to rest on seats 218B of attachment points 214B, thus preventing
the upper tray 100, and any food on it, from coming into contact
with any liquid that accumulates in the base tray 200.
[0044] The serving tray 300 may also be arranged in a packaging
state, where the upper tray 100 is placed further within the base
tray 200 by engaging the attachment points 118 of the upper tray
100 with the attachment points 214A having a greater depth. In such
a packaged state, the volume 302 is essentially eliminated, making
the serving tray 300 ideal for shipping purposes. In the packaged
state, the undersides of the seats 122 of the attachment points 118
of the upper tray 100 are in contact with the seats 218A of the
attachment points 214A. In some embodiments, the attachment points
118 work in conjunction with the rim 110 to support the upper tray
100, while in other embodiments the attachment points 118 work
alone to support the upper tray 100. In the packaged state, the
well 116 of the upper tray 100 fits substantially within the well
212 of the base tray 200. Furthermore, the underside of the support
surface 102 at the channel 106 rests upon the tabs 208 of the base
tray 200.
[0045] As just described, in the packaged state the seats 218A of
attachment points 214A support the seats 122 of attachment points
118 of the upper tray 100 while the tabs 208 also support the upper
tray 100. In other embodiments, however, the seats 122 of
attachment points 118 of the upper tray 100 are not required to be
in contact with the seats 218A of the attachments points 214A of
the base tray 200 when the serving tray 300 is in the packaged
state. For example, the upper tray 100 may be supported entirely by
the tabs 208. The structure of the inner wall 204 of the base tray
200 may also provide support at the inner wall 114 of the upper
tray 100.
[0046] As previously noted, the attachment points 214A, 214B of the
base tray 200 may be configured to have different varying depths
within the well 212. Two such depths, corresponding to an elevated
state and a packaging state, have been described in detail above.
The attachment points 214A, 214B may also be configured to support
other arrangements for the serving tray 300. For example, another
embodiment would support an intermediate state, where the
attachment points are arranged to support the upper tray 100 at a
height above the base tray 200 between the lower packaging state
and the elevated state. Such an intermediate state may be ideal
during the time of consumption when only a portion of the ice has
melted. In effect, the food would be in closer proximity to the ice
without resting the upper tray 100 directly on the ice in the base
tray 200.
[0047] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the
above mentioned embodiments and exemplary working examples. For
example, while the serving tray 300 has been described in some
embodiments as a shrimp cocktail serving tray, the present
invention is in no way limited to these embodiments. Attributes of
the serving tray 300 that are beneficial to a shrimp serving tray,
such as a see-through lid, tiered well, and configurable upper and
base trays, for example, may be equally if not more beneficial to
other food groups. Further developments, modifications and
combinations are also within the scope of the patent claims and are
placed in the possession of the person skilled in the art from the
above disclosure. Accordingly, the techniques and structures
described and illustrated herein should be understood to be
illustrative and exemplary, and not limiting upon the scope of the
present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by
the appended claims, including known equivalents and unforeseeable
equivalents at the time of filing of this application.
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