Abstract:
A tray body fabricated of a molded cardboard material defines a generally rectangular recess having at least one support member extending downwardly. The tray body further defines a center cup receptacle having a receptacle wall extending downwardly beyond tray body. A pair of side receptacles is formed on the opposing end of the recess. A pair of middles receptacles is formed in the center of the present invention.

Description:
NON-PROVISIONAL PATENT 
       [0001]    The Fast Food Industry has been around since 1912. Fast food chains like McDonald&#39;s have reached international status. Food at fast rood restaurants is designed to be eaten “on the go”. Food usually consists of things like French fries, hamburgers, or chicken sandwiches which can be eaten without cutlery and just with hands. Another typical feature of fast food restaurants is a drive-through or drive-thru. A drive-through allows customers to remain in their vehicle while they order and receive their food from a server at a window. Also, many people will eat their food in their vehicle which led the invention of such vehicle additions like cupholders and glove compartment lids which double as a tray table. The present invention provides a tray that allows people to eat neatly within a vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved food and beverage tray supported by a cup holding armrest in a vehicle. A tray body fabricated of a molded cardboard material defines a generally rectangular recess having at least one support member extending downwardly. The tray body further defines a center cup receptacle having a receptacle wall extending downwardly beyond tray body. A pair of side receptacles is formed on the opposing end of the recess. A pair of middles receptacles is formed in the center of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of present invention in opened position. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of present invention in closed position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view with holder removed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of holder collapsed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of food tray in collapsed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of food tray in opened positioned. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of tray with fast food items therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of a food and beverage tray constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . In its preferred fabrication, tray ( 10 ) is formed as an integral top piece molded unit and a bottom piece molded unit which, as is described below in greater detail. It is recognized that tray ( 10 ) may be fabricated of preferably cardboard or other materials such as composite particle material, paper pulp material, plastic material or other formable particulate material such as wood flour. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in further accordance with the anticipated use of the present invention food and beverage tray ( 10 ), a conventional armrest (not shown) having a conventional cup holder (not shown) is required to the support of tray ( 10 ) therein. Food and beverage tray ( 10 ) comprises a body having a top flat wall ( 22 ) bounded by a rear ( 46 ) and front wall ( 42 ) with opposing side walls ( 43 ,  44 ) extending downward to a bottom wall wherein an interior cavity is formed therebetween. Tray ( 10 ) further comprises a cup receptacle ( 15 ) which is bounded by side walls that extend downwardly from a top end to a bottom end and has a configuration that comports to the shape of a standard cup holder cavity. Since conventional cup holders have a cylindrical shape cavity, the illustrated embodiment is cylindrical in shape. The bottom end of the cup receptacle ( 15 ) is configured to be received by a conventional cup holder cavity of any standard cup holder used in vehicles, movie theaters, bowling alleys, bicycles, motorcycles, and other entertainment facilities. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , cup receptacle ( 15 ) can be manufactured in a flat arrangement. Opposing sides ( 38 ,  32 ) can be folded over wherein a cylindrical opening is formed. Then, protruding member ( 38 ) formed along edge ( 38 ) is inserted into mating slot member ( 32 ) formed near edge ( 32 ). When formed cup receptacle ( 15 ) upper opening formed by top edge ( 36 ) can be slightly larger than lower edge ( 30 ). 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the top end of the cup receptacle ( 15 ) is releasably engaged with a recessed section ( 24 ) within under side of the bottom wall ( 23 ). Thus, the food tray body is supported within an upright position within a conventional cup holder. The top flat wall ( 22 ) has a plurality of apertures extending into the cavity of the body. The plurality of are apertures configured to support a group consisting of a fast food container opening ( 25 ), a condiment container opening ( 27 ), and a packet container slot ( 29 ). The food container opening ( 25 ) of the present convention is configured to support an outer frame of a fast food container ( 63 ) in an upright position. More specifically in this embodiment shown, the fast food container opening ( 25 ) supports the geometrical configuration of the conventional container for French fries used today. As shown the food container opening ( 25 ) comprises a first pair of opposing sides that are straight and a second pair of opposing sides that are curved. However, the configuration of the food container opening ( 25 ) can be configured in alternative shapes to support other fast food items. 
         [0016]    As further depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7  is the condiment container opening ( 27 ) configured to receive therein a rim ( 61 ) of a condiment container with a bottom wall bounded by a side walls that extend upward thereform and terminates in a rim ( 61 ). Other, configurations of condiment containers can be supported by the present invention. The shown configuration is conventional. 
         [0017]    As further depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7  is the packet container slot ( 29 ) configured to support in an upright position a small packet container ( 60 ) that comprise a pair of opposing flat panels with vacuum sealed opposing outer peripheral edges. As shown, the packet container slot ( 29 ) suspends in an upright position small packet containers ( 60 ) containing ketchup, lemon juice or the like. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cup receptacle ( 15 ) is releasably engaged from bottom wall. However in alternative embodiments the cup receptacle ( 15 ) can be integrally formed within the bottom wall. In this configuration, the cup receptacle ( 15 ) collapses within the bottom wall. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  6 A, the food and beverage tray ( 10 ) can be manufactured in a collapsed state. In the collapse state, the body of the food and beverage tray ( 10 ) has a collapsible fold line ( 20 ) along the median of the side walls ( 43 ,  44 ) and the cup receptacle ( 15 ) have a collapsible fold line ( 52 ) along the median side walls. 
         [0020]    In order to place the food and beverage tray ( 10 ) of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 6A  in an open position, a user inserts his finger through hole ( 54 ) along top ( 25 ) pushing supporting member ( 54 ) forward towards fold line ( 20 ) wherein fold line ( 20 ) is forced into a straight line as shown in  FIG. 6   a . Flaps  52  are pushed outward allowing cup ( 15 ) to be inserted therein. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 6  supporting opposing members ( 52 ) and ( 50 ) are collapsed allowing fold line ( 20 ) to expand outward wherein food tray ( 10 ) is in a collapse position. As shown in  FIG. 6A , supporting opposing members ( 52 ) and ( 50 ) are pushed outward allowing fold line ( 20 ) extend vertically wherein food tray is in an opened position. As shown in  FIG. 7 , French fry ( 55 ) is inserted within food container ( 25 ), ketchup packet ( 56 ) is inserted within packet slot ( 29 ), and condiment ( 57 ) is inserted within condiment holder ( 27 ). 
         [0022]    In operational use, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the cup receptacle ( 15 ) is opened and the side walls ( 38 ,  32 ) are secured and the body is placed in an opened state. Then the upper end of the cup receptacle ( 15 ) is coupled to a recessed area within the bottom wall ( 23 ) of the body. The bottom end ( 36 ) of the receptacle ( 15 ) is inserted within the cavity of the cup holder allowing the suspending of the body of the food tray in an upright position for easy reach of fast food items. 
         [0023]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.