Patent Publication Number: US-7717483-B1

Title: Server tray assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to serving trays, and more particularly, to an improved serving tray assembly having an adjustable strap integrally coupled to the bottom of the tray for allowing a waiter to secure their hand to the bottom of the tray, thereby preventing the tray from falling during transport and serving. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Waiters are responsible and accountable for many restaurant tasks, but the most important always seems to be the transporting of food and beverages to the patrons of a restaurant or cocktail party. When delivering several drinks, food, or other utensils, it is extremely important to have a stable tray from which to serve. It is all too common, sitting in a restaurant, to hear a tray fall to the ground and the drinks or food thereon crash to the floor. Not only does this create a huge mess to clean-up, but it also is extremely costly when food needs to be re-prepared, and aggravates patrons who have to wait even longer for their food. 
   Currently, standard serving trays are available on the market, but have yet to increase with the times. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to produce a means for preventing serving trays from falling out of the hands of servers, waiting on tables in busy restaurants. Accordingly, the invention is an improved serving tray assembly having an adjustable strap integrally coupled to the bottom of the tray. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a serving stray that can quickly and easily secure to the hand of the waiter. The serving tray of the present invention allows a waiter to easily secure their hand to the bottom of the tray, thereby preventing the tray from falling during transport and serving. 
   It is yet another object of the invention to provide a serving tray that can easily be adapted to accommodate waiters having different size hands. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a serving tray affordable to construct and manufacture. 
   This invention is a serving tray assembly having a substantially circular plate including, a top and a bottom and two substantially elongated oval openings extending from the top to the bottom. The plate has an outer perimeter having an integrally coupled upwardly extending edge including a top having a lip. A tray is integrally coupled to the plate. A securing means including a substantially elongated rectangular strap including a top surface and a bottom surface, a first end and a second end. The first end includes a substantially square and hollow clasp, wherein the top surface of the second end includes two substantially elongated strips of hook and loop fastener spaced apart. 
   To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a serving tray assembly of the present invention, having a bottom including an integrally coupled adjustable strap. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the serving tray assembly of the present invention in use, where the adjustable strap includes a buckle and hook and loop fastener and is shown secured to a hand of a waiter. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the serving tray assembly of the present invention, where a tray is coupled over the plate to allow for a flat smooth serving surface. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an improved serving tray assembly  10  of the present invention. The serving tray  10  includes a substantially circular plate  12 . The plate  12  includes an outer perimeter  14 . An upwardly extending edge  16  is integrally coupled to the outer perimeter  14  and preferably extends upwardly in a perpendicular orientation from the plate  12 . The edge  16  includes a top  16 A. The top  16 A of the edge  16  can include a lip  18 . 
   The plate  12  also includes a top  12 A and a bottom  12 B. Two substantially elongated oval openings  20  extend from the top  12 A to the bottom  12 B of the plate  12 . 
   A securing means  13  is used to hold the hand of the waiter to the bottom  12 B of the plate  12 . In the preferred embodiment, a substantially elongated rectangular strap  30  is used to secure a waiter&#39;s hand to the plate  12 . However, other securing means are contemplated including, but not limited to both rigid and non rigid materials, both integrally coupled and removable coupled to the bottom  12 B of the plate  12 , for example, adhesive straps, a fixed elastic strap, a button strap. 
   In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a substantially circular tray  21  is integrally coupled to the top  12 A of the plate  12  for concealing the securing means  13  and allowing waiters to place items thereon. The tray  21  may be coupled by adhesion or other like method. 
   The strap  30  of the preferred embodiment includes a top surface  30 A and a bottom surface  30 B, and a first end  32  and a second end  33 . The first end  32  includes a substantially square and hollow clasp  34  integrally coupled thereto. The top surface  30 A of the second end  33  includes two substantially elongated strips of hook and loop fastener, including a first strip and a second strip  36  and  38  respectively. The two strips of hook and loop fastener  36  and  38  are preferably spaced apart from one another for accommodating the hollow clasp  34  when in use. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom diagrammatic perspective view of the improved serving tray assembly  10 . In use, the second end  33  of the strap  30  extends up through one elongated oval opening  20  and down through the other elongated oval opening  20 . The tray  21  is then, if it is not already, integrally coupled to the plate. A waiter places their hand against the bottom  12 B of the plate and then adjustable fastens the strap  30  securely around their hand. To secure the strap  30 , the second end  33  of the strap is brought over the hand of the waiter and fed through the clasp  34  at the first end  32  of the strap  30 . Then, after the second end  33  is fed through the clasp  34 , the strap secures to itself by allowing the first strip of hook and loop fastener  38  to couple with the second strip of hook and loop fastener  36 . 
   When secured as such, the strap  30  lies flush between the tray  21  and plate  12  and does not interfere with plates or glassware being transported. 
   In conclusion, herein is presented an improved serving tray assembly. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.