Patent Publication Number: US-2012031806-A1

Title: Detachable support and serving tray

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/401,023, filed Aug. 6, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to apparatus for serving and presenting food or drinks, and more particularly, to a detachable support and serving tray apparatus. 
     Some serving apparatus may not provide a stable support for holding a plurality of drinks in a stable manner. Some serving apparatus may not provide a detachable support that may allow the apparatus to be used as both a serving tray and an elevated serving platter. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved serving apparatus that may allow the apparatus to be used as a serving tray having a stable support for holding a plurality of drinks or as an elevated serving platter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a serving apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a serving tray, a detachable support, and a support stem extending from a bottom side of the detachable support and configured to temporarily assemble to the serving tray. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a serving apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a serving tray, a tray slot formed in the serving tray, a holding structure, a support stem, a support, wherein the holding structure forms a top surface of the support, and wherein the support stem connects the holding structure to the tray slot, and a detachable support tab, the detachable support tab on an end of the support stem and configured to twistingly engage the tray slot. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique perspective view of a detachable support and serving tray according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded oblique perspective view of the detachable support and serving tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an oblique perspective view of the detachable support and serving tray of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail bottom view of the assembly of the detachable support and serving tray of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 5  is a detail bottom view of the assembly of the detachable support and serving tray of  FIG. 1  in a locked position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the detachable support shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the detachable support shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the detachable support shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross section view of a detachable support and serving tray according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a support and serving tray apparatus that includes a support for holding drinks or food items, the support being detachably assembled to a serving tray by a support stem. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an oblique perspective view of a detachable support and serving tray  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detachable support and serving tray  10  may have a detachable support  12  assembled to a top side of a slotted tray  14 , which may be configured to hold or support a drinking glass  16 , for example. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded oblique perspective view of detachable support and serving tray  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown. A dashed line illustrates a direction of assembly of detachable support  12  to slotted tray  14 . Detachable support  12  may have a detachable support tab  18  formed or machined on an end thereof, which may be configured to engage a tray slot  20 , which may be formed or machined in slotted tray  14 . Detachable support tab  18  and tray slot  20  may be complementary and configured to have interconnecting or interlocking elements Two arrows illustrate a twisting or rotating of detachable support  12 , which may secure or cause detachable support tab  18  to engage tray slot  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an oblique perspective view of detachable support and serving tray  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in a second configuration. Detachable support tab  18  may be assembled to a bottom side of slotted tray  14  and configured such that portions thereof may extend through tray slot  20  to a top side of slotted tray  14 . In this second configuration, the top side of slotted tray  14  may be an elevated serving platter. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , detail bottom views of an assembly of detachable support  12  to slotted tray  14  are shown in an unlocked and locked configuration respectively. Detachable support tab  18  is shown assembled to, and extending through, tray slot  20 . Arrows shown in  FIG. 4  indicate a rotation or direction of assembly of detachable support tab  18 , which may result in the locked configuration shown in  FIG. 5 . In the locked configuration, portions of detachable support tab  18  may twistingly engage slotted tray  14 . According to an exemplary embodiment, detachable support tab  18  may be temporarily secured to tray slot  20  in the locked configuration by an interference fit, for example. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , side perspective, top plan, and bottom plan views of detachable support  12  of  FIG. 1  are shown respectively. Detachable support  12  may include a support stem  26  that may extend from a holding structure  34  and interconnect holding structure  34  to detachable support tab  18 . Holding structure  34  may form a top surface of detachable support  12  and may have a drink opening  30 , which may be configured to hold or grasp a drink, for example. A support vane  28  may extend from support stem  26  and may provide structural support or stiffness for holding structure  34 . An identifier  36  may be formed or printed on a top surface of holding structure  34  and may be associated with drink opening  30 . Identifier  36  may be used to label or identify a drink (e.g., drinking glass  16 ) placed in an associated drink opening  30 . Holding structure  34  may have a cavity  32 , formed therein, which may extend down a length of support stem  26 . Cavity  32  may allow nesting or stacking of a plurality of detachable supports  12  for storage, whereby a support stem  26  of a first detachable support  12  assembles to cavity  32  of a second detachable support  12 , for example. According to exemplary embodiments, detachable support  12  may include a plurality of drink openings  30  and a plurality of support vanes  28 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a cross section view of an assembly of a detachable support and serving tray  11  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detachable support and serving tray  11  may include a round opening tray  24 , which may have an aperture  38  formed therein, and may be configured to accept a friction detachable support  22  therein. Friction detachable support  22  may be assembled to an aperture  38  of round opening tray  24  and held therein by an interference fit, for example. 
     According to some exemplary embodiments, holding structure  34  may be a first material that may be configured to be flexible and permit elastic deformation thereof. Support stem  26 , support vane  28 , and detachable support tab  18  may be a second material that may provide structural rigidity or support. Identifier  36  may be a label that may be engraved, printed, embossed, etched, or stamped on a surface of holding structure  34 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.