Abstract:
A faux ice tray system featuring a plurality of faux ice trays that interlock via interlock bars. The system can be placed in a refrigerated display in lieu of traditional ice or in a display cooled with another type of mechanism or with traditional ice. The trays are reversible wherein the top surface and the bottom surface can be used for containing faux ice. Some systems may feature an indentation for a bowl. Removable lids may provide an air-tight seal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/352,304 filed Jun. 7, 2010, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Food displays with ice typically require a great deal of time to keep fresh. Ice has a tendency to melt and freeze the bottom of products in the case, making the product unattractive and unsellable. The present invention features a faux ice tray system (e.g., “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system) comprising a plurality of interlocking faux ice trays. The system can be placed in a refrigerated display in lieu of traditional ice (or in a display cooled with another type of mechanism). Or, in some embodiments, the faux ice tray system can be used in combination with traditional ice. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention features a faux ice tray system. In some embodiments, the system comprises at least two interlocking trays, each interlocking tray comprising a base having a bottom surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a back wall that altogether form a first enclosed area adapted to hold faux ice; a concave indentation disposed in the bottom surface of the base, the concave indentation forms a second enclosed area in the bottom surface of the base, the second enclosed area is adapted to hold faux ice; a first lock channel disposed in the first side of the base and a second lock channel disposed in the second side of the base, the first lock channel and the second lock channel have a first shape; and an interlock bar having a first end, a second end, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion each have a second shape as viewed from the first end of the interlock bar, the second shape corresponds to the first shape such that the interlock bar can slide within the first lock channel or the second lock channel. The first side portion of the interlock bar engages the first lock channel of one interlocking tray and the second side portion of the interlock bar engages the second lock channel of the other interlocking tray. 
     In some embodiments, drainage holes are disposed in the interlocking tray. In some embodiments, a nametag slot adapted for displaying a tag is disposed in the first enclosed area. In some embodiments, a nametag slot adapted for displaying a tag is disposed in the second enclosed area. In some embodiments, a label recess is disposed in the front wall or in the back wall of the base, the label recess is adapted to accept a label card. In some embodiments, a bowl groove is disposed in the first enclosed area adapted to hold a bowl. In some embodiments, a first divider is removably attached to the first side of the base and extends upwardly, and a second divider is removably attached to the second side of the base and extends upwardly. In some embodiments, the dividers are removably attached to the sides of the base, respectively, via a peg-and-aperture mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, a lid is removably attached to the base over the first enclosed area, the lid is adapted to move between at least an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the first enclosed area. In some embodiments, the lid is secured to the base via a latch-and-slot mechanism. In some embodiments, the lid comprises a seal for providing an air-tight seal with the base. 
     In some embodiments, the interlock bar has a length as measured from the first end to the second end that is no more than a length of the base as measured from the front wall to the back wall. In some embodiments, the first lock channel and the second lock channel are generally T-shaped. In some embodiments, the first side portion and the second side portion of the interlock bar is generally T-shaped. 
     In some embodiments, the system comprises an interlocking tray comprising a base having a bottom surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a back wall that altogether form a first enclosed area adapted to hold faux ice; a concave indentation disposed in the bottom surface of the base, the concave indentation forms a second enclosed area in the bottom surface of the base, the second enclosed area is adapted to hold faux ice; a first lock channel disposed in the first side of the base, the first lock channel has a first shape; and an interlock bar having a first end, a second end, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first side portion has a second shape as viewed from the first end of the interlock bar, the second shape corresponds to the first shape such that the interlock bar can slide within the first lock channel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tray of the “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of a tray of the “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the tray of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of two trays of the “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the faux ice tray system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the trays of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1-6 , the present invention features an “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system comprising a plurality of interlocking trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays). The trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays) each comprise a base  110  having a bottom surface, a first side wall  111 , a second side wall  112 , a front wall  113 , a back wall  114 , and a first enclosed area  105  enclosed by the bottom surface and side walls and front/back walls. The enclosed area  105  is adapted to hold faux ice  101  among other items. 
     The trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays) of the “Ever Ice” faux tray system of the present invention may be reversible. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, a concave indention  118  is disposed in the bottom surface of the base  110  (e.g., and the bottom edge of the front wall  113 , and/or the back wall  114 ). The concave indention  118  may allow for space to be present below the base  110 . The space may be used to accommodate an ice bed, for example if the faux ice tray  100  is placed in a cabinet display, wherein faux ice lines the bottom surface of the cabinet display (e.g., similar to what is seen in chilled food displays in grocery stores). In some embodiments, a second enclosed area  105   a  is disposed in the bottom surface of the base  110  formed by the concave indentation  118 . The second enclosed area  105   a  may also be used for faux ice  101  (see  FIG. 3 ) or any other appropriate item. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, a label recess  120  (or a plurality of label recesses  120 ) is disposed in the front wall  113  and/or the back wall  114  of the base  110 . The label recess  120  allows the tray  100  to be labeled and identified (e.g., with label cards  121 ). In some embodiments, a nametag slot  130  adapted for displaying tags  135  (e.g., food label tags for displaying food) is disposed in the first enclosed area  105  and/or the second enclosed area. In some embodiments, drainage holes  170  are disposed in the trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first divider  140   a  may be removably attached to the top or bottom edge of the first side  111  of the base  110 , and a second divider  140   b  may be removably attached to the top or bottom edge of the second side  112  of the base  110 . In some embodiments, the dividers help to separate items in one faux ice tray from another faux ice tray. The dividers  140   a,    140   b  may be attached via a first attachment means, for example a snap mechanism, a button mechanism, a peg-and-aperture mechanism, the like, or a combination thereof.  FIG. 3  shows the dividers  140   a,    140   b  attached to the base  110  via a peg-and-aperture mechanism (e.g., divider holes  142  are disposed in the base  110  adapted to receive pegs on the dividers  140   a,    140   b.    
     The “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system of the present invention further comprises a plurality of interlock bars  250 . Each interlock bar  250  has a first end  251 , a second end  252 , a first side portion  151 , and a second side portion  152 . A first lock channel  150   a  is disposed in the first side  111  of the base  110  and a second lock channel  150   b  is disposed in the second side  112  of the base  110 , wherein the lock channels  150   a,    150   b  are each adapted to receive a side portion  151 ,  152  of an interlock bar  250 . The interlock bars  250  can slide into the lock channels  150 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the first side portion  151  of an interlock bar  250  can be slid into the first lock channel  150   a  of a first tray and the second side portion  152  of the interlock bar  250  can be slid into the second lock channel  150   b  of a second tray, thereby connecting the first and second tray together. In some embodiments, the lock channels  150   a,    150   b  have a T-shape. In some embodiments, the side portions  151 ,  152  of the interlock bars  250  are T-shaped. The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned shapes. 
     The trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays) of the “Ever Ice” faux ice tray system of the present invention may be constructed in a variety of materials, for example materials adapted to keep ice and other items cold. Such materials are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The faux ice tray may have grooves and/or slots, for example, on the top surface to hold or accommodate a bowl  670  or other container (e.g., cocktail sauce). For example, in some embodiments, a bowl groove  660  is disposed in the first enclosed area  105  (or second enclosed area  105   a ) adapted to hold a bowl  670 . The bowl groove  660  may be of any size or shape; the bowl  670  may be any appropriate size or shape. 
     In some embodiments, the system of the present invention further comprises a plurality of lids  280  for covering the trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays) (see  FIG. 4 ). In some embodiments, the trays  100  (e.g., faux ice trays) are reversible. The lids may comprise a seal for providing an air-tight seal between the lids  280  and the base  110 . 
     In some embodiments, a clip  710  (e.g., a latch) is disposed on the lid  280 . The clip  710  is adapted to engage a lock slot  720  disposed on the base  110  (in a position corresponding to the clip  710 ). The clip  710  engages the lock slot  720  to hold the lid  280  in place. Such latch-and-slot mechanisms are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The components of the system of the present invention may be constructed in a variety of sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the base  110  is about 10 inches in width as measured from the first side  111  to the second side  112 . In some embodiments, the base  110  is about 14 inches in length as measured from the front wall  113  to the back wall  113 . In some embodiments, the bowl  670  is about 5 inches in height and about 8 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the interlock bar  250  is about 6 inches in length as measured from the first end  251  to the second end  252 . The present invention is in no way limited to the aforementioned examples of dimensions. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. 
     The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.