Patent Publication Number: US-2006000954-A1

Title: Food and beverage tray

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is based on the provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/584, 256 filed on Jun. 28, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a food and beverage tray which can be anchored in the ground.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In the past, persons attending a picnic or the beach have had to place their food and beverage items on the ground. Most of the time their food or beverages become inundated with sand or dirt and therefore the food is no longer sanitary. There is a long felt need to place the food and beverage on a device which prevents the food and beverage from becoming unsanitary.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a device which holds both food and beverage above the ground. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be anchored into the ground. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be anchored to the ground by a single instrument. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be anchored to the ground by multiple instruments. It is an object of the present invention to store the anchoring instruments to the device. It is an object of the present invention for the device to include a holder for a beverage. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be foldable so that it can expand to hold a greater amount of food and beverage. It is an object of the present invention for the anchoring instrument to be made of metal. It is an object of the present invention for the anchoring instrument to be made of plastic. It is an object of the present invention for the device to made in several different shapes or sizes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle to carry the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a top view of the device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of the device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  shows an unassembled view of the device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  shows a top view of the device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein said device  10  comprises a flat top  20  having a anchoring instrument  30  secured to top  20 . The anchoring instrument  30  is secured to the ground or sand  40 .  FIG. 1  shows only one anchoring instrument  30 .  
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein said device  100  has a flat top  110  which has a beverage holder  120 . The flat top  110  is anchored to the ground  130  by anchoring instruments  140 .  FIG. 2  shows four anchoring instruments  140 .  FIG. 2  also shows a handle  150  for holding the device once it is removed from the ground. A user places their food on top of the flat top  110  and places their beverage in the beverage holder  120 . The device  100  keeps a person&#39;s food and beverage at least several inches above the ground so as to avoid contamination.  
       FIG. 3  shows the bottom of the device shown in  FIG. 2 . The flat top  110  has four openings  160  which allow the anchoring instruments  140  to be placed into the flat top  110 . When the device is not in use, the anchoring instruments  140  are held to the flat top  110  by hooks  170 .  
       FIG. 4  shows the device  200  which has a larger flat top area  210  then is shown in the previous figures. The device  200  has anchoring instruments  220  and beverage holders  230  and  240 . The device  200  is foldable along line  250  and can be used for multiple persons to place their food and beverage items.  
       FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of device  300  wherein the flat top area  310  is in the shape of a circle having a beverage holder  320  and an anchoring instrument  330 .