Patent Publication Number: US-10321779-B1

Title: Multi-function appetizer tray system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of serving trays, and more particularly to methods and systems for multi-function appetizer trays. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal appetizer trays can be used at cocktail parties to allow guests to position appetizers while socializing. 
     However, storage of such appetizers trays is cumbersome, and guests often have problems holding both an appetizer tray and a drinking glass. 
     As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for appetizer trays, 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of appetizer trays, 
     In an aspect, a multifunction appetizer tray system, can include:
         a) a tray base, including:
           a base member; and   a peg that protrudes upwards from the tray base; and   
           b) a plurality of trays, each tray including:
           a tray member, including:
               a serving area, which is an indentation of the tray member; and   
               a stemmed drinking glass holder, which is a penetrating cutout in an inner end of the tray member, including:
               a passageway; and   a central aperture;   such that the passageway allows the peg to pass through the passageway into the central aperture, such that each tray is attached to the peg, such that the trays are stacked on top of the base member;   such that the passageway allows a stem of a stemmed glass to pass through the passageway into the central aperture, such that a lower end of a drinking portion of the stemmed glass rests on a peripheral edge of the central aperture, when the tray member is removed from the tray base.   
               
               

     In a related aspect, an outer shape of each tray member in the plurality of trays can be similar to an outer shape of the base member, such that the trays are rotatable to a stowed position, such that the trays are aligned with the tray base. 
     In another related aspect, the plurality of trays can include four trays. 
     In yet a related aspect, the tray base can further include a knob, which is connected to an upper end of the peg, such that the trays can be stacked between the base member and the knob. 
     In yet another related aspect, the tray base can be configured to allow a height between the knob and the base member to be adjustable, such that tray members of the plurality of trays can be secured tightly in place between the base member and the knob when the height is reduced; and such that the tray members can be rotatable, while still attached to the peg, when the height is increased. 
     In yet a related aspect, the knob can further include a threaded bolt, and an outer end of the peg can include a threaded aperture, such that the threaded bolt can be threaded into the threaded aperture; 
     such that tray members of the plurality of trays can be secured tightly in place between the base member and the knob when the knob is tightened; and such that the tray members are rotatable, while still attached to the peg, when the knob is loosened. 
     In yet another related aspect, the knob further can further include a threaded aperture in an inner end of the knob, and an outer end of the peg can include threading, such that the peg is threaded into the threaded aperture; such that tray members of the plurality of trays are secured tightly in place between the base member and the knob when the knob is tightened; such that the tray members are rotatable, while still attached to the peg, when the knob is loosened. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a folded-up configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a folded-out configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a partially disassembled configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a fully disassembled configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a fully disassembled configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a fully disassembled configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a multifunction appetizer tray system in a folded-out configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top view of a part of a tray member of a multifunction appetizer tray system, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of use of an appetizer tray of a multifunction appetizer tray system, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a top view of a part of a tray member of a multifunction appetizer tray system, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a part of a tray member of a multifunction appetizer tray system, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of use of an appetizer tray of a multifunction appetizer tray system, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention. 
     The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
     In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a multifunction appetizer tray system  100  with reference to  FIG. 1 , in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification. 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , a multifunction appetizer tray system  100  can include:
         a) a tray base  110 , including:
           i. a base member  112  with a threaded aperture  314  in an inner end of the base member  112 , as shown in  FIG. 3B ; and   ii. a peg  116  with a knob  117  connected to an upper end of the peg  116 , such that a threaded inner end of the peg  116  is connected to the threaded aperture  314 , such that the peg  116  is perpendicularly connected to the base member  112 , such that the peg  116  protrudes upwards; and   
           b) a plurality of multifunction trays  120 , each tray  120  including:
           i. a tray member  122 , including:
               i. a serving area  123 , which is an indentation of the tray member, which can include a peripheral wall  124 , disposed on a periphery of the serving area  123 ; and   
               ii. a stemmed drinking glass holder  326 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , which is a top-bottom penetrating cutout in an inner end of the tray member  122 , including:
               ii. a passageway  327 ; and   iii. a central aperture  328 ;   such that the passageway  327  allows the peg  116  to pass through the passageway  327  into the central aperture  328 , such that each tray  120  can be attached to the peg  116 , such that the trays  120  can be stacked (i.e. are configured to be stackable) on top of the base member  122 , such that the trays  120  can be stacked between the base member  122  and the knob  117 ;   such that the passageway  327 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 5B , allows a stem  582  of a stemmed glass  580  to pass through the passageway  327  into the central aperture  328 , such that a lower end  585  of a drinking/container portion  584  of the stemmed glass  580  can rest on a peripheral edge  329  of the central aperture  328 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , when the tray member  122  is removed from the tray base  110 ;   
               
           wherein an outer shape of each tray member  122  in the plurality of trays  120  is similar to an outer shape of the base member  110 , such that the trays  120  can be rotated to a stowed position, such that the trays  120  can be aligned with the tray base  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .       

     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the peg  116  can be tightened, such that tray members  122  of the plurality of trays are secured tightly in place between the base member  122  and the knob  117  when the peg  116  is tightened. 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the peg  116  can be loosened, such that tray members  122  of the plurality of trays  120  can be rotatable  260 , while still attached to the peg  116 , when the peg  116  is loosened; and such that, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the trays  120  can be removed. 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D , the tray base  110  can be configured to allow a height  150  between the knob  117  and the base member  112  to be adjustable, such that tray members  122  of the plurality of trays  120  can be secured tightly in place between the base member  112  and the knob  117  when the height  150  is reduced; and such that the tray members  122  can be rotatable  260  (i.e. be allowed to rotate  260 ), while still attached to the peg, when the height is increased, and such that, as shown in  FIGS. 3C and 3D , the trays  120  can be removed  360  by screwing the knob  317   337  off (i.e. removing the knob  317   337 ) and vertically sliding  360  the trays  120  off the peg  316   336 . 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the central aperture  328  can be configured to accept/fit the peg  336 , such that the tray  120  can slide vertically  360  onto the peg  336  with the peg sliding through the central aperture  328 , such that the passageway  327  is configured with a width  428  that is narrower than a diameter  437  of the peg  336 , such that the tray cannot accidentally slide horizontally off the peg  336 , whereby the tray  120  can only be removed by removing the knob  317   337  and vertically sliding  360  the trays  120  off the peg  336 . 
     In yet a related embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the peripheral edge  329  of the central aperture  328  (of a tray  120   620 ) can be configured as a beveled edge  632  (i.e. such that the peripheral edge  329  is beveled/is a beveled edge  632 ), which is configured to support a lower end  585  of a drinking/container portion  584  of a stemmed glass  580  that is inserted into the central aperture  328 , such that an edge angle  634  of the beveled edge  632  is configured to approximately/substantially match an external surface angle  636  of the lower end  585  of the drinking/container portion  584  that is in contact with the peripheral edge  329 . 
     In another related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the knob  317  can include a threaded aperture  318  in an inner end of the knob  317 , and an outer end of the peg  316  comprises threading  319 , such that the knob  317  with the threaded aperture  318  can be threaded onto the threading  319  of the peg  316 ; 
     such that tray members  122  of the plurality of trays  120  are secured tightly in place between the base member  110  and the knob  317  when the knob  317  is tightened; such that the tray members  122  can be rotatable  260 , while still attached to the peg  316 , when the knob  317  is loosened. The peg  316  can in this embodiment be permanently glued into the base member  112 . 
     In another related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3D , the knob  337  can include a threaded bolt  338 , which protrudes downward from an inner end of the knob  337 , and an outer end of the peg  336  comprises a threaded aperture  339 , such that the threaded bolt  338  can be threaded into the threaded aperture  339 ; such that tray members  122  of the plurality of trays  120  are secured tightly in place between the base member  110  and the knob  317  when the knob  317  is tightened; such that the tray members  122  can be rotatable  260 , while still attached to the peg  316 , when the knob  317  is loosened. The peg  336  can in this embodiment be permanently glued into the base member  112 . 
     In related embodiment, the trays  120   420  and base members  110   410  can be manufactured in different uniform shapes, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4A . 
     In another related embodiment, as for example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the plurality of trays  120  can include four trays. In other embodiments, there can be less than or more than four trays. 
     In a related embodiment, all parts of the multifunction appetizer tray system  100  can be made of wood, including rubberwood, cherry wood, and other wood types. 
     In a related embodiment, all parts of the multifunction appetizer tray system  100  can be made from wood, plastic, composites, metal, and combinations of these. 
     In related embodiment, the multifunction appetizer tray system  100  can have the following functions/features of utility:
         a) Allows displays your favorite appetizers, Hors d&#39; Oeuvres, desserts, cheeses, fruits on kitchen countertops or dining tables without cumbersome display trays;   b) Perfect for mingling at parties, conveniently holds both your wine glass and appetizer;   c) Stemmed wine glass fits into the built-in holder;   d) Prepared for easy, space saving storage when not in use;   e) Useful for any entertaining function, and makes serving and presenting food easy;   f) Compact, edged appetizer plate holds wine and appetizers in one convenient unit, with raised perimeter edge to prevent appetizers from shifting;   g) Easy to maintain and clean. Can be washed with warm soapy water and air dried;   h) Multifunctional as a five-tiered food display stand, and as individual appetizer plates;   i) Allows for unscrewing and removal of the knob to remove plates and use them as appetizer plates; and   j) Wine glass stem holders are cleverly designed on the ends of the plates, making it easy to hold both wine and food while mingling.       

     Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the multifunction appetizer tray system  100 , and methods related thereto, which can be employed in numerous modes of usage. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.