Party tray carrier

The present invention is directed toward an insulated party tray carrier. The party tray carriers of the present invention comprise a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, a front wall and side walls. The walls of the present invention are insulated to reduce the rate of heat transfer from items inside the carrier to the ambient environment. The present invention also comprises one or more ribs to add structural integrity to the party tray carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention is directed toward an insulated party tray carrier.
 The party tray carriers of the present invention comprise a top wall, a
 bottom wall, a back wall, a front wall and side walls. The walls of the
 present invention are insulated to reduce the rate of heat transfer from
 items inside the carrier to the ambient environment. The present invention
 also comprises one or more ribs to add structural integrity to the party
 tray carrier.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 Prior art party tray carriers lack internal volume.
 Prior art party tray carriers have limited insulating capacity which limits
 the duration that warm or refrigerated food items can be carried in such
 prior art bags without reaching a thermal equilibrium with ambient
 temperature conditions. In the party tray delivery art, it is desirable to
 deliver cooked food items that are at a temperature similar to the
 temperature of the items when they are removed from an oven. It is also
 desirable to deliver refrigerated food items at a temperature similar to
 the temperature of the items when they are removed from a refrigerator.
 Prior art party tray carriers also lack the structural rigidity needed to
 carry heavy trays. The present invention employs one or more ribbed walls
 to add structural rigidity.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is directed toward a thermally insulated party tray
 carrier comprising an insulated back wall comprising a top outer edge, a
 bottom outer edge, a first side outer edge, and a second side outer edge.
 The party tray carrier further comprises an insulated top wall comprising
 a back edge attached to the top outer edge of the back wall such that the
 top wall is substantially perpendicular to the back wall and further
 comprising a front edge opposite the back edge. The top wall further
 comprises two horizontally extending rib channel. The invention further
 comprises a handle attached to the top wall and an adhesive strip is
 mounted on the top wall within 25 inches of the front edge.
 The party tray carrier further comprises an insulated bottom wall
 comprising a back edge attached to the bottom outer edge of the back wall
 such that the bottom wall is substantially perpendicular to the back wall
 and further comprising a front edge opposite the bottom wall back edge.
 The invention further comprises a first insulated side wall attached to the
 back wall, bottom wall and top wall such that the first side wall, is
 substantially perpendicular to the back wall, the bottom wall, and the top
 wall, when the first side wall is in an unfolded position. The second side
 wall further comprises a front section.
 The invention also comprises a second insulated side wall attached to the
 back wall, bottom wall, and top wall, such that the second side wall is
 substantially perpendicular to the back wall, the bottom wall, and the top
 wall, when the second side wall is in an unfolded position. The second
 side wall is attached to the top wall and bottom walls opposite from the
 first side wall. The second side wall further comprises a front section.
 The invention further comprises a rib placed in each rib channel.
 The invention further comprises an insulated front wall comprising a bottom
 border, a top border, and two side borders. The bottom border is pivotably
 attached to the front edge of the bottom wall.
 The invention further comprises a closure flap attached to the top border
 of the front wall, and sized sufficiently large to extend over the
 adhesive strip. The invention also comprises an adhesive affixed to the
 closure flap such that when the closure flap is placed on the adhesive
 strip, the adhesive material adheres to the adhesive strip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 The present invention is directed toward a thermally insulated party tray
 carrier comprising an insulated back wall 10 comprising a top outer edge
 11, a bottom outer edge 12, a first side outer edge 13, and a second side
 outer edge 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The pizza bag further comprises an
 insulated top wall 16 comprising a back edge 17 attached to the top outer
 edge of the back wall such that the top wall is substantially
 perpendicular to the back wall and further comprising a front edge 18
 opposite the back edge as shown in FIG. 1.
 In a preferred embodiment the top wall comprises a horizontally extending
 rib channel 48 as shown in FIG. 1. In another preferred embodiment, the
 top wall and the bottom wall are rectangular. In another preferred
 embodiment, the top wall comprises two substantially parallel rib
 channels.
 In a preferred embodiment, the top wall further comprises a label holder 60
 mounted on the top wall, and capable of holding labels or documents, such
 as invoices, or customer order forms, as shown in FIG. 3. In a preferred
 embodiment, the label holder comprises a transparent surface, thereby
 permitting a person holding the tray carrier to read a document inserted
 in the label holder. The invention further comprises a handle 20 attached
 to the top wall and an adhesive strip 23 mounted on the top wall within 25
 inches of the front edge as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In a preferred
 embodiment, the handle is made from a nonrigid or flexible material, such
 as webbing. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is placed substantially
 perpendicular to the rib channel of said top wall, as shown in FIG. 3.
 The invention further comprises an insulated bottom wall 24 comprising a
 back edge attached to the bottom outer edge of the back wall such that the
 bottom wall is substantially perpendicular to the back wall and further
 comprising a front edge 26 opposite the bottom wall back edge. In a
 preferred embodiment, the top wall comprises two substantially parallel
 rib channels as shown in FIG. 1.
 The invention further comprises a first insulated side wall 28(a) attached
 to the back wall, bottom wall and top wall such that the first side wall,
 is substantially perpendicular to the back wall, the bottom wall, and the
 top wall, when the first side wall is in an unfolded position as shown in
 FIGS. 1 and 2. The first side wall further comprises a front section.
 The invention further comprises a second insulated side wall 28(b) attached
 to the back wall, bottom wall, and top wall, such that the second side
 wall is substantially perpendicular to the back wall, the bottom wall, and
 the top wall, when the second side wall is in an unfolded position as
 shown in FIG. 1. The second side wall is attached to the top wall and
 bottom walls opposite from the first side wall as shown in FIG. 1. The
 second side wall further comprises a front section.
 In a preferred embodiment, the first side wall and second side wall are
 rectangular. In another preferred embodiment, the height of the side walls
 in an unfolded position is at least 2.0 inches. In another preferred
 embodiment, the first side wall and second side wall are double layered.
 The invention further comprises a rib 39 placed in each rib channel as
 shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, the ribs are flexible. In
 another preferred embodiment, the ribs are inflexible. In another
 preferred embodiment the length of each rib is at least 75% of the length
 of the rib channel in which the rib is installed.
 The invention further comprises an insulated front wall 42 comprising a
 bottom border 43, a top border, 44, and two side borders 50 as shown in
 FIGS. 1 and 3. The bottom border is pivotably attached to the front edge
 of the bottom wall.
 The invention further comprises a closure flap 46 attached to the top
 border of the front wall, and sized sufficiently large to extend over the
 adhesive strip. The invention also comprises an adhesive 47 affixed to the
 closure flap such that when the closure flap is placed on the adhesive
 strip, the adhesive material adheres to the adhesive strip as shown in
 FIGS. 1 and 3. In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive strip and the
 adhesive material comprise hook and loop fastening members. A suitable
 material comprising hook and loop fastening members is sold under the
 trademark VELCRO.RTM..
 In a preferred embodiment, the side walls, top wall, bottom wall, and front
 wall define an internal volume of at least 4.0 cubic inches when the side
 walls are in an unfolded position. In another preferred embodiment, the
 internal volume of the party tray carrier is at least 18.0 cubic inches
 when the side walls are in an unfolded position. In another preferred
 embodiment, the bag weighs less than 4.0 pounds.
 The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative
 and explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as
 well as in the details of the illustrative construction may be made
 without departing from the spirit of the invention.