Patent Publication Number: US-6036020-A

Title: Dinner tray

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to trays, and, more particularly, to an improved dinner tray for supporting a plurality of beverage cups, as well as food and condiments therein 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As is well known, in many types of bars, convenience stores, movies, theaters and restaurants, a consumer will order drinks and/or food to go, or for carrying to a table, vehicle, or the like, for consumption. To better able the consumer to carry the drinks and/or food orders, many establishments provide a basket, box or flat tray. Such baskets, boxes and flat trays may be flimsy or do not hold beverages and condiments in place, and cannot always be successfully used to safely transport consumable items to a table, vehicle, or the like. For example, the food or beverage in a basket or on a tray might slide or fall off and strike a person or other item, requiring time and expense in cleaning and/or mopping up the ensuing mess. Furthermore, if a beverage spilled is hot, the consumer or a bystander could suffer injury. In any event, the food and beverages would be wasted, and some or all of the meal and condiments would be lost. 
     Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an improved dinner tray for holding a number of beverage cups in place, and which also provides a flat surface for supporting food and a slotted area to hold condiments securely therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved dinner tray. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved dinner tray having a plurality of beverage holding areas therein. It is another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved dinner tray, having a plurality of beverage holding areas, a flat food carrying area and a holding area for condiments for use with the food and/or beverage carried in the tray. It is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved dinner tray having a plurality of cup holding areas at either or both ends thereof capable of accommodating different sized cups, with a flat area between and spaced from the cup holding areas, and a slotted condiment holding area spaced from the beverage holding areas. And, it is a still further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved dinner tray having beverage cup holding areas, which contain specifically shaped openings having slitted portions therein to accommodate and hold various size cups. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a dinner tray having a plurality of specifically shaped beverage holding compartments adjacent a flat food supporting area surmounted by an annular lip and a condiment holding area. The bottoms of the plurality of beverage holding compartments and the condiment opening are formed so as to support the tray in a horizontal position on a flat surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the improved dinner tray of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dinner tray of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the dinner tray of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the improved dinner tray of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the dinner tray of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the dinner tray of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of a third embodiment of the improved dinner tray of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational of the dinner tray of FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out her invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide for a novel and improved dinner tray 10 having a substantially rectangular body 12 with rounded and/or slanted corner portions and a plurality of cup holding compartments 14, formed in a flat top portion 16. An annular lip 18 is connected to the outside edge of the flat top portion 16 and extends entirely around the body 12. The cup holding compartments 14 are preferably formed with hexagonal top openings 20 at a first end of the body 12. In the second end of the body 12, opposite to the first end there is formed a condiment holding area 22, such as an elongated reservoir or trough. Food may be held on the tray in a flat, horizontal surface 24 recessed in the flat top surface, between the first and second ends. An elevated rim or wall 23 surrounds the recessed flat surface 24. Each of the plurality of cup holding compartments 14 is preferably formed with two stepped portions 26, 28, of different sizes, but of approximately equal height, thereby dividing the depth of the cup compartments into two equal recesses, or pockets. Each of the stepped portions 26, 28 are capable of holding different size beverage containers or cups, ranging from approximately 8 ounces through approximately 32 ounces. Additionally, each of the cup holding compartments 14 ends in a substantially flat, circular bottom portion 30 to support a small cup thereon, and so as to be capable of supporting the tray 10 in a horizontal position on a flat surface. Additionally, the condiment holding area 22 also preferably ends in a flat bottom surface 32, which flat bottom surface also aids in supporting the dinner tray 10 in the horizontal position on a flat surface. 
     To further enable different size cups to be inserted and firmly held within the cup holding compartments 14 each of the octagonal sides in both the upper portion 26 and lower portion 28 is provided with slits or other opening 33 formed therein. Each of the slits 33 enable the octagonal slotted portions in the upper and lower stepped areas 26,28 to be spread apart by the insertion of a cup therein, to thereby grasp and hold, such different size cups in position. 
     The dinner tray of the present invention is adapted to be used by a consumer when they purchase one or more drinks, food and/or condiments, which are placed in the appropriate areas in the tray, and then carried by the consumer to a table or other flat surface, or a vehicle. The dinner tray may then be supported on the flat surface, in the hand or hands of a user, or on a user&#39;s lap, so that the one or more users may eat the food items and/or drink beverages from the cups held within the openings 14. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4-6, there shown is a second embodiment of a dinner tray 34 having a substantially rectangular body 35, comprised of a flat top surface 36 with a surrounding annular lip 39 and a plurality of cup holding compartments 14 formed at a first end 38 and a second end 40. There are two cup holding compartments 14 at each end, capable of carrying different size beverage containers or cups therein, as explained more fully above, in connection with the cup holding compartments 14 of the first embodiment of the tray. The flat top portion 36 includes an enlarged recessed area centrally thereof, between ends 38, 40, having flat surfaces 42, 44 formed therein and surrounded by a wall 45. Between the flat surfaces 42, 44 there is formed an elongated reservoir or slot 46, similar to the reservoir 22 of the first embodiment of the dinner tray. The elongated reservoir 46 may end in a rounded end portion 48 aligned with the flat bottom surfaces of the cup compartments 14, or may end in a flat surface, such as 32 of the reservoir 22. 
     A third embodiment of the present invention is shown at 50 in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. This third embodiment is comprised of an elongated substantially rectangular body 52 having rounded or slanted corner portions, an annular lip 53 and a single cup holding compartment 14 at each of its ends 54, 56, a flat top surface 58, and a pair of flat inner support surfaces 60, 62 separated by an elongated reservoir 64, having a rounded base 66. 
     It, therefore, can be seen that the various embodiments of the dinner tray of the present invention are easily used to conveniently transport and carry beverages, food and condiments, in a safe and secure manner. Such a dinner tray may be placed on any flat surface, such as a table, the ground, or the lap of a user, to facilitate eating and drinking. After use, the tray may be stored for reuse, or, in most instances, thrown away. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.