Abstract:
A food and beverage tray that is particularly useful in consuming fast food or snack meals. The food and beverage tray is uniquely designed so that the entire fast-food or snack meal may be held with one hand, leaving the other hand free for eating.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 14/338,074 filed Jul. 22, 2014. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to food and beverage trays. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel hand-held, fast food and beverage tray that is designed so that the entire fast-food or snack meal may be held with one hand, leaving the other hand free for eating. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0007]    A number of food and beverage trays of various configurations have been suggested in the past. Typically these trays are constructed from a foldable cardboard material and are generally provided with a series of openings for receiving utensils, beverage containers and various types of food items. 
         [0008]    Exemplary of the prior art food and beverage trays is the tray disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,937 issued to Maio. The Maio tray comprises an easy set-up tray wherein in addition to the usual well defined by a tray for receiving food products, there is a top wall for receiving other products, including containers for drinks and the like. Each tray is of a one-piece construction and is provided in a substantially flat knocked-down state. When it is desired to erect or set-up the tray, side walls thereof are grasped and pulled apart with the result that the tray automatically erects and is locked in its erected or set-up position. The top wall is connected to the side walls by reversely foldable connecting walls so as to provide for a rigid structure. 
         [0009]    A somewhat similar tray is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,459 issued to Mazzotti. The Mazzotti tray exhibits a support and containment plane provided with a plurality of compartments one of which extends beneath the support and containment plane thereby constituting a manual grip for the tray while contemporaneously providing a suitable seating for the top or can. 
         [0010]    Exemplary of yet another prior art food tray, is the tray disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,927 issued to Sorensen. The Sorensen tray comprises a pop-up food tray for combination meals and functions as a lap or seat mounted support for the typical sandwich, drink cup and french fry container related to eating drive-in fast-food. The tray includes a multiple spring cam mechanism for accommodating a wide variety of drink cup sizes and provides a fold out wall that catches spilled food particles, a foldable condiment serving tub, a fold out cover that contains the used food containers for convenient disposal, punch out game pieces, a random number spinner wheel and a wide variety of games printed on the tray. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Fast food and snacks are difficult to eat unless the consumer has a table or flat surface on which to set their meal. Particularly at outdoor events, such as concerts, fairs, and sporting events, the consumer has difficulty eating multiple food items and a beverage without a flat surface on which to place the meal. Similarly, condiments are difficult to use unless the consumer is sitting at a table, or placing the food items on a flat surface. 
         [0012]    By way of brief summary, one form of the food tray of the present invention that provides a novel solution of the foregoing problems, includes a bottom wall having a central portion provided with a plurality of finger receiving openings; a pair of substantially parallel side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, one of the sidewalls being provided with a generally centrally disposed finger receiving opening; a pair of substantially parallel end walls extending upward from the bottom wall; and a top wall connected to the sidewalls and to the end walls and overlying the bottom wall, the top wall having a pair of longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings; a generally centrally disposed beverage container receiving opening; and a pair of longitudinally spaced condiment container receiving openings disposed intermediate the pair of longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings. 
         [0013]    With the forgoing in mind, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel food and beverage tray that is particularly useful in consuming fast food or snack meals. More particularly, the food and beverage tray is uniquely designed so that the entire fast-food or snack meal may be held with one hand, leaving the other hand free for eating. 
         [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a food and beverage tray of the aforementioned character that enables the fast food customer to consume multiple food items and a drink without a flat surface on which to place the meal. 
         [0015]    Another object of the invention is to provide a food and beverage tray of the type described in the preceding paragraphs that enables the fast food customer to carry in one hand a beverage container, two food items, condiments and a napkin. 
         [0016]    Another object of the invention is to provide a food tray of the class described in the preceding paragraph in which the food and beverage tray is uniquely designed to include strategically located thumb and finger holes that are positioned on the bottom and on one side of the tray so that the weight of the beverage container is at the center of gravity of the tray. 
         [0017]    Another object of the invention is to provide a food tray which contains recessed openings of such a shape and depth as to accommodate food containers (bags) which stand upright, thus allowing the food to be removed and eaten with one free hand. 
         [0018]    Another object of the invention is to provide a food tray that can be shipped and stored in a generally planar configuration and one that can be quickly and easily erected into a usable configuration. 
         [0019]    Another object of the invention is to provide a food tray of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the top wall of the tray includes a downwardly foldable structural support member, which upon the erection of the tray spans the top and bottom wall of the tray, lockably engages the bottom wall and securely maintains the top and bottom wall and a spaced configuration. 
         [0020]    The foregoing, as well as other objectives of the invention, are achieved by the novel food tray illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective, illustrative view showing one form of the food and beverage tray of the invention being held by the user. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a generally perspective bottom view illustrating one method of holding the beverage and food tray of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a generally perspective bottom view illustrating an alternate method of holding the beverage and food tray of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the food and beverage tray illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the food and beverage tray illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the food and beverage tray illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of an alternate form of the food and beverage tray of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of still another form of the food and beverage tray of the invention as it appears in a transport and storage configuration. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, generally perspective, diagrammatic view illustrating the method of erection of the tray from the planar storage and shipment configuration shown in  FIG. 10  to the usable configuration shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary, generally perspective view further illustrating the method of erection of the tray and illustrating the manner in which the foldable support member of the tray is interlocked with the bottom panel of the tray. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a generally perspective view showing the food and beverage tray of this latest form of the invention in an erected, ready to use configuration. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the food and beverage tray shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a bottom plan view of the food and beverage tray shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a front view of the food and beverage tray shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a rear view of the food and beverage tray shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is a right end view thereof. 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  is a left end view thereof. 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  is a fragmentary, generally perspective diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of carrying the food and beverage tray with the user&#39;s thumb in stabilizing engagement with the lower portion of the beverage container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , one form of the food and beverage tray of the present invention is there shown and generally identified by the numeral  14 . The beverage tray here comprises a boxlike structure having interconnected top, bottom and end walls  16 ,  18  and  20  respectively and front and rear sidewalls  22   a  and  22   b  respectively. As best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings, top wall  16  is provided with two longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings  24  and  26 , and a centrally disposed, generally circular shaped opening  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , openings  24  and  26  are specially designed to hold paper bags, paper wrappers, or smaller tapered trays and like containers that hold food items of various sizes. Both of the food container receiving openings  24  and  26  are provided with a pair of downwardly foldable food container engaging flaps  30  in order to accommodate and hold steady food containers of different sizes. In order to accommodate beverage containers of various diameters, a plurality of radially outward extending slits  28   a  circumscribe the beverage container receiving opening  28 . 
         [0042]    As best seen in  FIG. 8  of the drawings, bottom wall  18  comprises a generally planar bottom wall having a central portion  18   a  provided with spaced apart first, second and third finger receiving openings  32 ,  34  and  36  respectively. Side walls  20   a  and  20   b  extend upward from bottom wall  18  and, for a purpose presently to be described, rear sidewall  22   b  is provided with a generally centrally disposed finger receiving opening  40  (see  FIG. 5 ). End walls  20  are substantially parallel and extend upward from bottom wall  18  in the manner shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0043]    In practice, the food and beverage tray can be conveniently shipped to the user in planar form and then folded into the box shape shown in the drawings at the time of use. 
         [0044]    In the preferred form of the invention, top wall  16  further includes a pair of longitudinally spaced condiment container receiving openings  42  and  44  that are disposed intermediate the pair of longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings  24  and  26 . Openings  42  and  44  can readily accommodate condiment containers of various types such as, for example, ketchup containers, mayonnaise containers, salsa containers and the like. Additionally, top wall  16  is provided with a generally centrally disposed, generally circular shaped, scored napkin receiving opening  46 . As depicted in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, while the food tray is being carried, one corner of the napkin can be conveniently secured within the opening until the food is to be consumed. 
         [0045]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, due to the depth of the openings in which the food is placed, the food items can “stand-up” rather than lay on their sides. For example, a sandwich can stand-up, rather than lay flat. Similarly, finger foods such as French fries, chicken fingers, etc. stand-up so that they are more easily eaten. 
         [0046]    The preferred method of use of the food and beverage tray of the present invention to carry fast food items is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. In accordance with this method, the user&#39;s thumb is positioned within generally elliptical shaped opening  34  provided in the bottom wall of the tray and the middle finger is inserted into circular opening  40  provided in sidewall  22   b.  The index and ring fingers are then placed in engagement with the surface of sidewall  22   b  in the manner shown in  FIG. 2  to assist in stabilizing the tray while it is being carried. 
         [0047]    An alternate method of use of the food and beverage tray of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. In accordance with this alternate method, the user&#39;s index finger is positioned within circular opening  36  provided in the bottom wall of the tray, the middle finger is positioned within generally elliptical shaped opening  34  and the thumb is positioned within circular opening  40  provided in sidewall  22   b . The user&#39;s ring finger and little finger can then be placed in engagement with the surface of the bottom wall  18  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3  to assist in stabilizing the tray while it is being carried. 
         [0048]    By gripping the food and beverage tray of the character described in the preceding paragraphs, the fast food customer can readily carry in one hand a beverage container, two food items, condiments and a napkin. As previously mentioned, due to the strategic positioning of the thumb and finger holes of the tray on the bottom and on one side of the tray, the weight of the beverage container is uniquely disposed at the center of gravity of the tray thereby permitting the user to easily balance the tray as it is being carried. Importantly, the unique construction of the food and beverage tray as described herein enables the fast food customer to conveniently consume multiple food items and a drink without having to have a flat surface on which to place the tray. 
         [0049]    Turning now to  FIG. 9  of the drawings, an alternate form of the food and beverage tray of the invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  54 . This embodiment of the invention is similar in many respects to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8  and like numerals are used in  FIG. 9  to identify like elements. Beverage tray  54  here comprises a boxlike structure having a bottom wall that is identical in construction to bottom wall  18  and further comprises interconnected top and end walls  56  and  20  respectively and front and rear sidewalls  22   a  and  22   b  respectively. Top wall  56  is provided with two longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings  24  and  26  of identical construction and operation to those previously described, and a centrally disposed, generally circular shaped opening  28  that is also of identical construction and operation to that previously described. 
         [0050]    In this alternate form of the invention, top wall  56  further includes a pair of longitudinally spaced, generally rectangular shaped condiment container receiving openings  58  and  60  that are disposed intermediate the pair of longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings  24  and  26 . Openings  58  and  60  like the previously described openings  42  and  44  can readily accommodate condiment containers of various types such as, for example, ketchup containers, mayonnaise containers, salsa containers and the like that are packaged in rectangular shaped containers. Additionally, top wall  56  is provided with a generally centrally disposed, generally circular shaped, scored napkin receiving opening  46 . 
         [0051]    Referring next to  FIG. 10  of the drawings, still another form of the food and beverage tray of the invention is there shown as it appears in a flat, pre-erected configuration. This embodiment of the invention, which is generally designated by the numeral  104 , is similar in some respects to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , but is uniquely designed to permit expeditious erection from the generally planar configuration shown in  FIG. 10  into the erected, usable configuration shown in  FIG. 13 . As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, the fully erected beverage tray  104  comprises a boxlike structure having a bottom wall  62 , a spaced apart top wall  64  and a pair of sidewalls  66  and  68  that are foldably connected to top wall  64 . 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , bottom wall  62  is connected to sidewall  66  by a fold line  70  and sidewall  66  is connected to top wall  64  by a fold line  72 . Similarly, top wall  64  is connected to sidewall  68  by a fold line  74 . Bottom wall  62  is provided with a fold line  76  that permits the formation of a connector flap  78  that can be connected to sidewall  68  by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding (see  FIG. 13 ). 
         [0053]    As best seen in  FIGS. 10 and 13  of the drawings, bottom wall  62  comprises a generally planar wall having a central portion  62   a  provided with a centrally disposed, generally elliptically shaped finger receiving opening  80 . Additionally, bottom wall  62  is provided with a pair of transversely spaced locking tab receiving slots  81 , the purpose of which will presently be described. As indicated in  FIG. 11  of the drawings, each of the tab receiving slots  81  has a first length “L”. 
         [0054]    As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, top wall  64  is provided with two longitudinally spaced, generally rectangular shaped food container receiving openings  82  and  84 , and a centrally disposed, generally circular shaped beverage container receiving opening  86 . In order to accommodate beverage containers of various diameters, a plurality of radially outward extending slits  86   a  circumscribe the beverage container receiving opening  86 . 
         [0055]    As before, openings  82  and  84  are provided with a pair of downwardly foldable food container engaging flaps  85  and are specially designed to hold paper bags, paper wrappers, or smaller tapered trays and like containers that hold food items of various sizes. Both of the food container receiving openings  82  and  84  are also uniquely provided with a pair of downwardly foldable, bottom wall engaging supporting flaps  88 , the function of which will presently be described. 
         [0056]    As best seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , rear sidewall  66  is provided with spaced apart first, second and third finger receiving openings  90 ,  92  and  94  respectively and front sidewall  68  is provided with a generally centrally disposed opening  96 . Circumscribing opening  96  is a plurality of radially outward extending slits  96   a  which permit napkins and the like to be inserted there within. 
         [0057]    In this latest form of the invention, top wall  64  further includes a pair of longitudinally spaced, generally circular shaped condiment container receiving openings  98  that are disposed intermediate the pair of longitudinally spaced food container receiving openings  82  and  84 . Openings  98  can readily accommodate condiment containers of various types such as, for example, ketchup containers, mayonnaise containers, salsa containers and the like that are packaged in circular shaped containers. 
         [0058]    In erecting the food and beverage tray from the pre-erected configuration shown in  FIG. 10  to the erected, usable configuration, the bottom wall  62  is folded along the fold line  70 , sidewall  66  is then folded along fold line  72  and sidewall  68  is folded along fold line  74  to form a partially erected tray configuration. This done, connector flap  78  is folded along fold line  76  and the connector flap is bonded to sidewall  68  in the manner shown in  FIG. 13  to form the partially constructed tray there illustrated. In an alternate method of erection of the tray, the connector flap  78  can be bonded to sidewall  68  prior to the folding of the bottom wall  62  the sidewall  66  and the top wall  64  thereby permitting the pre-bonded, partially erected tray thus formed to be shipped and stored in a flat, pre-bonded configuration. This alternate method of tray erection somewhat simplifies the final erection step next to be described. 
         [0059]    Turning particularly to  FIG. 11  of the drawings, once the tray is folded into the partially erected configuration there shown, the locking flaps  88  can be folded downwardly in the direction of the arrow  100  in order to lock the tray in an erected configuration. In this regard, it is to be noted that the lower edges of each of the downwardly foldable bottom wall engaging supporting flaps  88  is provided with a locking tab  88   a  that has a second length “L- 1 ” that is greater than the first length “L” of the locking tab receiving slots  81  that are formed in bottom wall  62 . With this construction, it can be observed that each of the downwardly extending resiliently deformable locking tabs  88   a  include an outwardly extending securement ear  88   b.  As illustrated by the dotted lines in  FIG. 12 , when the flaps  88  are in the downward locking position, the locking tabs  88   a  extend through the locking tab receiving slots  81  and the securement ears  88   b  extend outwardly on either side of the slots  81  thereby restricting the accidental removal of the locking tabs from the receiving slots. 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 20  of the drawings, in using the food and beverage tray of this latest embodiment of the invention to carry fast food items, the user&#39;s thumb is positioned within generally elliptical shaped opening  80  provided in the bottom wall of the tray and the middle finger is inserted into circular opening  92  provided in sidewall  66 . The index and ring fingers are then inserted into the openings  90  and  94  provided in the sidewall  66 . If desired, the little finger can be positioned in engagement with the surface of the sidewall to assist in stabilizing the tray while it is being carried. 
         [0061]    By gripping the food and beverage tray of the character described in the preceding paragraphs, the fast food customer can readily carry in one hand a beverage container, two food items, condiments and a napkin. Due to the strategic positioning of the thumb and finger holes of the tray on the bottom and on one side of the tray in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 20 , when the beverage container is positioned within opening  86 , the thumb of the user will engage the bottom portion of the beverage container (shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 20 ) thereby permitting the user to easily balance the tray as it is being carried. Importantly, the unique construction of the food and beverage tray as described herein enables the fast food customer to conveniently consume multiple food items and a drink without having to have a flat surface on which to place the tray. 
         [0062]    Accordingly, although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that all the terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting and that many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.