Abstract:
A food tray is described that may be used to more easily remove food product from the tray. The device allows for emptying of the tray with the use of a removable ramp or spout that easily cleaned and coupled to the tray.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/043,615 filed on Aug. 29, 2014, the application of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
     Not Applicable 
     JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention pertains generally to food containers and food dispensing trays. More particularly, the invention pertains to a food tray that may be used to more efficiently and quickly dispense food in uniform quantities while providing a tray assembly that is easily cleaned and stackable for storage. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Over the years various food containers have been devised to display food in an attractive manner while also providing a functional vessel to dispense food. At times it may be desirable to elevate the container to provide a heat source under the container while aesthetically displaying food within the container. A wire frame may be utilized to elevate the container a desired distance above the heat source. The container may be modified to couple in mating relation with the wire frame. At times, serving food from the container may require a separate ladle, however scooping food from the container may lead to inconsistent serving sizes and may also result in unintentional spills. Alternatively, containers with spouts have been devised, however when multiple containers are stacked for stowage, the containers require additional height to accommodate stacked containers. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments according to aspects of the invention provide a food tray usable during the food production, display and dispensing of food product. Without limitation intended, the food tray of the present invention is particularly useful when making, displaying and dispensing mini donuts. The tray of the present invention includes a removable ramp that provides for efficient dispensing of food products into smaller point of sale containers including, for example, bags or buckets. 
     In accordance with aspects of the invention, an embodiment of the food dispensing tray assembly includes a tray and a removable ramp. Additionally, the assembly may include a wire frame stand or support to elevate the tray above a working surface. The tray includes a bottom, sides extending upward from the bottom and a lip extending outward from an upper end of the sides around a perimeter of an open top of the tray. Also, a cutout is formed in the tray to define a discontinuity in the lip and to provide an opening in a side of the tray for the ramp to couple to the tray. The removable ramp has a base, angled sides extending from edges of the base, interlocking rims that lock with an upper edge of the lip of the tray, and flanges extending between the base and the rim that engage inner walls of the tray adjacent the cutout in the side of the tray. A separation distance between the sides of the ramp is slightly less than a width of the cutout formed in the tray such that the ramp couples to the tray within the cutout in a mating relationship. A support extending outwardly from a bottom of the base of the ramp includes a groove in the support that engages a lower edge of the cutout of the tray. 
     Additionally, in accordance with aspects of the invention the food dispensing tray assembly may include a tray, removable ramp, and support. The tray includes a bottom, sides extending upward from the bottom and a lip extending outward from an upper end of the sides around a perimeter of an open top of the tray, wherein a cutout is formed in the tray defining a discontinuity in the lip. The removable ramp has a base, angled sides extending from edges of the base, interlocking rims that lock with an upper edge of the lip of the tray, and flanges extending between the base and the rim that engage inner walls of the tray adjacent the cutout in the side of the tray. A separation distance between the sides of the ramp is slightly less than a width of the cutout formed in the tray to provide a desired fit between the ramp and tray. A support extending outwardly from a bottom of the base of the ramp includes a groove in the support that engages a lower edge of the cutout of the tray. A wire frame or stand may be further incorporated into the assembly to elevate the tray and ramp above a working surface. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a tray and ramp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention elevated above a wire frame; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ramp elevated above the tray and having the ramp removed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom end perspective view of the tray illustrating the cutout and having the ramp or chute removed; 
         FIG. 4  is a front right perspective view of the ramp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front left perspective view of the ramp of the type shown in  FIG. 4  and in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a back perspective view of the ramp of the type shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom back perspective view of the ramp of the type shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     A food dispensing tray assembly  10  particularly well suited for point of sale production, display and dispensing of food stuffs, includes a wire stand or frame  14 , tray  16  and detachable ramp or chute  18 . The ramp is particularly well suited to re-direct food stuff from the tray into point of sale bags, buckets, or other point of sale containers. Additionally, the ramp is easily removed to clean the ramp prior to stowage. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the tray  16  includes a bottom  28 , discontinuous sides  30  extending upward from the bottom  28 , a lip  34  extending outward from an upper end of the sides  30 . A rim  32  extends downward from an outer end of the lip  34 . The lip  34  extends around a perimeter of an open top of the tray  16 . A cutout or void  38  is formed in an end side of the tray  16 , defining a discontinuity in the sides  30  and lip  34 . The cutout  38  of the tray  16  extends from the lip  34  downward to a curved intersecting portion  40  of the bottom  28  and sides  30  of the tray  16 . The sides  30  of the tray  16  slope outward from the bottom  28  of the tray to reduce the amount of food particles retained on the sides  30 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-7 , the removable ramp or food chute  18  includes a base  50 , angled sides  52  extending from edges of the base  50 , and interlocking curved clips or fingers  56  that lock with an upper edge of the lip  34  and rim  32  of the tray  16 . Flanges  54  extend between the base  50  and the clip  56  and is dimensioned to engage an inner side wall of the tray  16  adjacent the cutout  38  in the side  30  of the tray  16 . A separation distance between the sides  52  of the ramp  18  is slightly less than a width of the cutout  38  formed in the tray  16 . A support  58  extends outwardly from a bottom of the base  50  of the ramp  18 , wherein a groove  60  in the support  58  engages a lower edge  42  of the cutout  38  of the tray  16 . The lower edge  42  of the cutout engages in the groove to further retain the ramp  18  in a fixed position relative to the tray. The flange  54  extends from the base  50  forming an angle between the base  50  and the flange  54 , the angle being obtuse. 
     Use of the food dispensing tray assembly  10  will next be described in conjunction with the production, sale and dispensing of mini donuts. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other food stuffs may be equally dispensed efficiently from the tray  16  of the present invention. During the production of mini donuts a donut machine ejects fried donuts into the tray  16 , where the donuts may be sugared or otherwise coated while they cool. Donuts are easily dispensed from the tray by pushing or sliding the donuts on to ramp  18 . A bag or bucket may be placed under the ramp to collect the desired number of donuts to be sold. When the tray is empty and cleanup is required, the ramp  18  is detached from the lip  34  of the tray  16  and quickly cleaned. Multiple trays  16  may be stacked together and multiple ramps  18  may be stowed in the open tray portion of the upper most tray of stacked trays. 
     These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.