Patent Publication Number: US-8113380-B2

Title: Ergonomic serving tray

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT/IL2006/00740, filed Jun. 22, 2006, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application No. 60/693,075, filed Jun. 23, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to serving devices, and specifically to serving trays that are designed with ergonomic improvements to be handled with a single hand. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Serving trays are widely known and commonly used. The usual tray sits flat against a surface, has a planar carrying surface and some sort of graspable edge, or handles. It is often necessary to use two hands to lift and set down the tray, particularly when the tray is loaded with objects. Heavy trays are difficult enough to manage with two hands, let alone with a single hand. Even skilled servers require two hands to lift and set down such trays. Furthermore, trying to carry these trays with one hand requires a great deal of skill. 
     A number of trays in the art have made various attempts to improve the design of serving trays, in order to facilitate their carrying. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,438, U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,495, NL1010697C. and GB2266447 all offer serving trays that provide improved grips that facilitate balancing the trays. Nevertheless, none of these responses provides a solution for lifting and setting down the trays with a single hand. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,398 and WO2004004520 both present snack trays that are easy to carry in one hand. However, the designs require that the thumb be inserted into a hole that restricts movement. This may force users to hold the tray in an unnatural or uncomfortable position. Furthermore, the indentations and cutouts in the planar area severely restrict the usable carrying surface, thereby limiting the usefulness of such trays. 
     EP1438915 relates to a serving tray with a handle protruding upwards from the middle of the tray, enabling the tray to be carried with one hand. However, the central placement of the handle interferes with and restricts the usable surface area of the tray. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,286 discloses a serving tray having an opening through which the server&#39;s hand is inserted, allowing the server to lift and carry the tray with one hand. In spite of this, such a tray may be difficult to balance because the tray&#39;s gripping point is not aligned with the tray&#39;s center of gravity. Additionally, once the hand is inserted into the opening, it will be difficult for the server to reposition the tray or switch the tray to the other hand. 
     There is clearly a need for a new serving tray that can easily, comfortably, and naturally be lifted, carried, and set down with a single hand, even when the tray is fully loaded white leaving the second hand free to perform another task, and which additionally has a large carrying surface. It would be further useful if said tray were stackable for compact storage and of a simple, ergonomic, and inexpensive design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the above shortcomings in many serving trays, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved serving tray that the user can lift, carry, and set down with a single hand, without tilting the tray. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a new serving tray with a raised ergonomic grip that allows the user to comfortably, securely, and naturally grasp the serving tray. The raised ergonomic grip is situated along a portion of an edge of said tray, which portion may be closest to the center of gravity. It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide the user with a more comfort and more controllable tray. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, these objectives are achieved by providing an ergonomic grip that is substantially a saddle-like depression. In some other embodiments, an ergonomic grip may be enhanced with one or more concavities to facilitate thumb placement. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a tray shaped such that the gripping point of said tray may be situated adjacent to the center of gravity in order to increase the stability of the tray while holding the tray by the raised ergonomic grip. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood in light of the ensuing descriptions of several embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein— 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an ergonomic serving tray in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 1  as it sits in the hand of the user; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a an ergonomic serving tray in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 5  as it sits in the hand of the user; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an ergonomic serving tray in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the ergonomic serving tray of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the ergonomic Serving tray of  FIG. 10  as it sits in the hand of the user; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a plurality of ergonomic serving trays of  FIG. 1 , stacked. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Presented herein is an ergonomic serving tray  100  with a unique structural design that enables the user to lift, carry, and set down said tray with a single hand, even when said tray  100  is loaded to capacity, without tilting said tray  100 . For purposes of this document, a serving tray may be defined as an open holder with a substantially planar upper carrying surface on which items may be placed, a level underside, and a rim defining the perimeter of the tray that provides additional rigidity. An ergonomic serving tray  100  of the present invention further comprises a contoured gripping area for lifting said ergonomic serving tray  100 , and at least one raised section that enables the user to insert a hand under said ergonomic serving tray  100 . 
     In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, shown in the perspective, front, and top views in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  respectively, the raised section of said ergonomic serving tray  100  may be achieved by incorporating a plurality of legs  106 , which protrude from the underside surface  104  of ergonomic serving tray  100 . Legs  106  maintain the underside surface  104  of ergonomic serving tray  100  above the surface on which ergonomic serving tray  100  may be set, allowing the user to easily insert a single hand under ergonomic serving tray  100  and lift ergonomic serving tray  100 . According to such an embodiment, legs  106  may be strategically positioned along the perimeter of ergonomic serving tray  100  so that ergonomic serving tray  100  will not tilt or fall over when resting on a surface. The total number, size, and shape of legs  106  may vary according to the size of ergonomic serving tray  100 . According to the embodiment described in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  15 , there are five legs  106 , substantially evenly spaced along the perimeter of ergonomic serving tray  100 . This configuration is seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  15 . 
     According to some other embodiments, ergonomic serving trays  110  may be equipped with legs  106  as described in  FIG. 14 , wherein a continuous leg  106  follows the contour of the outer edge of ergonomic serving tray  100 . An additional leg  106  positioned in the center of ergonomic serving tray  100  may provide further stability. 
     According to some embodiments, legs  106  may be hollow. This hollowed out shape may allow a plurality of ergonomic serving trays  100  to stack together, as shown in  FIG. 15 , for compact and convenient storage. Another benefit offered by legs  106  shaped thusly is that when liquids spill onto ergonomic serving tray  100 , they will run into the hollow part of legs  106 , eliminating the need for a high rim and allowing for the possibility of a lower, more aesthetically pleasing rim around ergonomic serving tray  100 . 
     A useful feature of the present invention is a grip  108 , which has been ergonomically shaped to safely and comfortably increase both the user&#39;s lifting capacity and the user&#39;s control over ergonomic serving tray  100 . This ergonomic grip  108  extends from the outer edge of ergonomic serving tray  100  in towards the center of ergonomic serving tray  100 . Grip  108  is dimensioned so that a portion of the user&#39;s hand sits within grip  108  and the thumb  110  sits over grip  108 . The shape, location, and size of grip  108  may substantially maximize the useable surface area of ergonomic serving tray  100 . 
     In some embodiments, grip  108  may be drawn upward, culminating in a concave, saddle-like rise, and may be somewhat wider and taller at the outer edge of ergonomic serving tray  100 , tapering in towards the inner end. Such a configuration may be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  15 . 
     In accordance with some other embodiments, described in the perspective, front, section, and top views in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8  respectively, rip  108  may comprise a raised, angled area under which the user&#39;s palm and fingers  112  sit and a raised thumb-supporting depression  114  centered on grip  108  within which the thumb  110  sits. According to such a configuration, grip  108  may also function to create the aforementioned raised area. Such a grip  108  may be useful for an ergonomic serving tray  100  that may be used for carrying, for example, unbalanced loads as may be encountered in, for example, a self-serve or fast food restaurant and may also be used in such settings where the user may use an ergonomic serving tray  100  as an eating surface. 
     In accordance with yet other embodiments, described in the perspective, front, section, and top views in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  12 , and  13  respectively, grip  108  may comprise an indented, raised area under which a portion of the user&#39;s hand sits and three or more thumb-supporting depressions  114  distributed along grip  108  within which the thumb  110  sits. Configuring thumb-supporting depressions  114  thusly allows the user to easily position and reposition thumb  110  as the load on carrying surface  102  changes. An ergonomic serving tray  100  with such a grip  108  may be useful for an ergonomic serving tray  100  that may be used for carrying, for example, heavy loads such as plates, as may be encountered in, for example, a bar or a busy restaurant. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, grip  108  of ergonomic serving tray  100  is constructed in such way that the pressure exerted by the user&#39;s thumb  110  acts as a counterbalance to ergonomic serving tray  100 , increasing the stability and balance of ergonomic serving tray  100 . Additionally, grip  108  provides improved handling and grasping of ergonomic serving tray  100 , preventing ergonomic serving tray  100  from slipping out of the user&#39;s hand. 
     When the user&#39;s hand is positioned generally parallel to underside surface  104  of ergonomic serving tray  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  9 , and  14 , ergonomic serving tray  100  may be supported at carrying surface  102  by positioning thumb  110  on grip  108 , and by resting underside surface  104  of ergonomic serving tray  100  on fingers  112  and, optionally, a portion of the palm of the hand. 
     Another important feature of the present invention is that ergonomic serving tray  100  is equally suited for use with the left hand and the right hand. Either hand will fit naturally and securely around grip  108 . 
     According to some embodiments of the present invention, the inner end of ergonomic grip  108  may be located substantially adjacent to the center of ergonomic serving tray  100  and may therefore also be at a point closest to the center of gravity of ergonomic serving tray  100 , as described in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  13 , thereby facilitating the grasping, lifting, balancing, and carrying of ergonomic serving tray  100 , regardless of the load that ergonomic serving tray  100  bears. Additionally, the shape of grip  108  may be such that thumb  110  is positioned substantially above fingers  112 , making it possible to maneuver freely in any direction while naturally maintaining the balance of ergonomic serving tray  100 . 
     Ergonomic serving tray  100  is very simple to grip and to use. In order to more fully describe the present invention, the following describes a mode of use. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the hand of the user fits naturally around grip  108 . According to some embodiments, thumb  110  rests over the saddle-like rise at the top of grip  108 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and underside surface  104  of ergonomic serving tray  100  sits comfortably on fingers  112 . In some other embodiments, thumb  110  rests within a thumb-supporting depression  114 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 14 . The web between the thumb  110  and a finger  112  fits snugly against the outer edge of grip  108 . When the hand is thus positioned, the counterforce of thumb  110  against fingers  112  allows the user to more naturally grasp ergonomic serving tray  100  and gives the user greater control over ergonomic serving tray  100 . Furthermore, the ergonomic shape of grip  108  makes ergonomic serving tray  100  equally suited for left-handed and right-handed use. 
     An embodiment of ergonomic serving tray  100  may be in the shape of a trapezoid. Another embodiment of ergonomic serving tray  100  may be in the shape of a six-sided polygon, such as a convex, irregular hexagon. Yet another embodiment of ergonomic serving tray  100  may be in the shape of a modified rectangle, wherein at least one corner has been trimmed off. Ergonomic serving tray to according to other embodiments may take other shapes, including an ellipse, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, or a free-form shape. 
     In some embodiments, ergonomic serving tray  100  may be made of acrylic. There is also the option of manufacturing the present invention in any other suitable materials, such as plastic, wood, aluminum, and stainless steel. In some embodiments of the invention, some portions of ergonomic serving tray  100  may be denser than other portions of ergonomic serving tray  100 , which may further assist in aligning grip  108  of ergonomic serving tray  100  with the center of gravity. 
     In accordance with any embodiment of the present invention, the rim of ergonomic serving tray  100  may optionally be raised to assist in preventing items from slipping off carrying surface  102 . 
     For added rigidity and strength, there is the option of adding ribs to any embodiment of the present invention. This option may be especially useful for ergonomic serving trays  100  that are manufactured in larger sizes. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations, modifications, and applications that are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.