Abstract:
An apparatus comprises a service tray comprising a top surface, a first side, a second side opposing the first side, and a housing being disposed beneath the top surface. The top surface is configured for transporting food and beverage items. A first drawer is configured to be retractable into the housing through an opening in the first side. The first drawer is further configured for retaining a plurality of items. A second drawer is configured to be retractable into the housing through an opening in the second side. The second drawer is further configured for retaining a plurality of items in which the service tray with the first drawer and the second drawer is balanced about a midline along a width of the service tray between the first drawer and the second drawer.

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0003]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to food service equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to a serving tray with internal drawers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. Servers in establishments such as, but not limited to, bars, restaurants, and casinos often carry many products at once on the same serving tray. In addition to this, servers often must collect money and make change for products sold. In general the collection of money must be done properly and correctly to optimize profitability for an establishment. 
         [0006]    By way of educational background, an aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that servers often carry currency on the surface of a serving tray or in an empty glass on the serving tray. Alternatively, cash boxes may be placed on the surface of the service tray to hold currency. Attachable cash drawers for serving trays are also available to servers for holding currency. 
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C illustrate an exemplary beverage service tray, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view.  FIG. 1B  is a partially transparent side view, and  FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of a drawer in an open position; and 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C illustrate an exemplary service tray, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view with drawers in an open position.  FIG. 2B  is a side perspective view of the tray with a drawer in an open position and beverages on a serving surface, and  FIG. 2C  is a bottom perspective view of the tray with a drawer in an open position. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. 
         [0013]    Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive. 
         [0014]    It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0015]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0016]    From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. 
         [0017]    Although Claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. 
         [0018]    Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom. 
         [0019]    References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. 
         [0020]    As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application. 
         [0021]    It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details. 
         [0022]    A practical embodiment of the present invention provides a beverage service tray with two (2) retractable currency drawers in a housing. Carrying and exchanging cash for food and beverages can be difficult for servers due to the limited lighting typically provided in these environments and the limited space on top of serving trays. Bills and coins stacked upon a tray often become disorganized, are not properly stored to generally ensure accurate transaction amounts, and can easily fall from or be stolen from trays and wind up completely lost. Beverages can also spill upon money collected on top of serving trays, and bars and restaurants wind up having to hold this money until it is cleaned and dried, thus limiting cash flow and requiring more cash on hand to operate efficiently. Some currently available trays feature cash boxes for currency exchange; however, these boxes limit the storage space on top of the trays, thus reducing the number of products that may be carried on the trays. Also, currency is often stored in bulk in these boxes and cannot be properly organized to aid in correct and balanced transactions. Furthermore, these cash boxes can offset the balance of the trays, making spillage of beverages a risk, which is also a typical problem with currently available attachable cash drawers since these drawers are mounted to one side of the trays. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C illustrate an exemplary beverage service tray  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view.  FIG. 1B  is a partially transparent side view, and  FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of a drawer  103  in an open position. In the present embodiment, beverage service tray  100  comprises two retractable drawers  103  located at opposite ends within a housing  105  of service tray  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 1B and 1C , drawers  103  comprise currency compartments  107  and elevating lids  109 . Housing  105  is made of a durable polypropylene material in a fourteen-inch by twenty-inch (14″×20″) rectangular shape and is one-and-one-half-inch (1½″) in height. Drawers  103  are also made of a polypropylene material. In some alternate embodiments, the housing and the drawers of the tray can be made of various different applicable materials, including but not limited to fiberglass, polycarbonate, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. Furthermore, in some alternate embodiments, trays can be produced in different sizes and shapes. In the present embodiment, the top-surface perimeter of housing  105  features a raised wall  111  that is one-half-inch (½″) in height. In some alternate embodiments, the wall surrounding the top of the tray can be of various different heights, and this wall may or may not be reinforced with a durable material such as, but not limited to, various plastics like high-density polyethylene (HDPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and various rubber materials. Other alternate embodiments may be implemented without a wall. In the present embodiment, a serving surface  113  is textured to enhance contact grip of any contents upon surface  113 . In some alternate embodiments, the serving surface can include, without limitation, a frictional material such as but not limited to cork, rubber, or soft neoprene with the purpose of securing the placement of contents upon the tray. Some alternate embodiments may also include, without limitation, cylindrical recesses or recesses in different shapes upon the serving surface for the improved containment of cups, glasses and bottles with lesser risk of spillage. 
         [0024]    In the present embodiment, tray  100  comprises two drawers  103 ; however, some alternate embodiments may be implemented with more or fewer drawers. Referring to  FIG. 1B , in the present embodiment, retractable drawers  103  are accessible by push release, in which the depression of drawers  103  releases the hold of an interior spring-loaded mechanism  115 , which enables drawer  103  to slide horizontally away from housing  105 . In some alternate embodiments the drawers may be secured by and move using various different means, including but not limited to push-button release, a securing latch, manual withdrawal, etc. In some alternate embodiments, the drawer may also feature a lock device for the security of its contents. Referring to  FIGS. 1B and 1C , currency compartments  107  are walled compartments for the containment of paper currency and coin currency. It is contemplated that various different numbers of compartments for the containment of paper currency carrying different denominations may be used, as well as various different numbers of compartments for the containment of coinage. Currency compartments  107  may also be used to hold items other than currency such as, but not limited to, credit card receipts, tooth picks, straws, matchbooks, pens, pencils, etc. In the present embodiment, currency compartments  107  are permanently attached to drawer  103 ; however, in some alternate embodiments the compartments may be part of a currency tray that can be removed from the drawer or may be individually removable. Other alternate embodiments may be implemented without such interior compartments within the retractable drawers for the separation of currency. Referring to  FIG. 1C , in the present embodiment, elevating lids  109  are attached to drawers  103  by two-pieced retractable axles  117 , each made of stainless steel or another type of metal. Lids  109  cover approximately two-thirds (⅔) of the horizontal planes of drawers  103  when levelly applied. Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize that some alternate embodiments may comprise various different means for attaching the lids to the drawers such as, but not limited to, hinges or sliding the lids onto the drawers. Other alternate embodiments may be implemented without lids covering the drawers. 
         [0025]    In typical use of the present embodiment, beverages and serving items can be stored upon serving surface  113  of tray  100  with no spatial interference from other objects or devices such as, but not limited to, currency or cash boxes. Drawers  103  allow for the collection of tips and payment while keeping money off of serving surface  113  and out of site of patrons. Drawers  103  keep currency safe and secure and leave more space on tray  100  for drinks and food. When an exchange of currency is needed, a user may depress one of drawers  103  releasing securing spring-loaded mechanism  115  to enable drawer  103  to slide out to provide access to currency within currency compartments  107 . Upon extraction of retractable drawer  103 , retractable axles  117  holding lid  109  extend upward to expose the contents of drawer  103  to the user yet block the visibility of the currency to patrons. When access to the currency within retractable drawer  103  is no longer needed, the user may push drawer  103  back within housing  105  of tray  100 . By pushing drawer  103  into a closed position, retractable axles  115  of lid  109  are pulled closed to allow for complete insertion of drawer  103  within housing  105 . The spring is mounted on a shaft, and the shaft is connected to the axles of the lid, they are connected in a fashion that resembles a ball joint. When the lid is opening the shaft pushes upon the axle causing it to rotate one way and the lid to open. When the drawer is closed the shaft pulls on the axle causing it to rotate in the opposite direction which causes the lid to close. 
         [0026]    Service tray  100  can safely secure currency exchanged in beverage service. Service tray  100  can also generally prevent accidental beverage spillage upon currency and generally prevent interruption of the flow of currency interchanged in its using environment. Elevating lid  109  of drawer  103  shields visibility of the currency carried by beverage servers, which can reduce a primary impetus of theft upon its users. By containing collected currency in retractable drawers  103 , service tray  100  helps to generally prevent accidental loss of currency and provides proper organization of currency to help maintain accuracy in currency transactions. 
         [0027]    Unlike attachable cash drawers currently used upon some beverage service trays, service tray  100  maintains the currency carried by beverage servers in a separate, secure and maintained compartment without affecting the balance of the contents and typically avoids spillage. By avoiding such spillage, service tray  100  also generally prevents the accidental spillage of collected fluids within the tray on customers and on servers. By not having a cash drawer maintained on the serving surface area, the serving capacity of service tray  100  is not affected or reduced, enabling beverage servers to carry more drinks at one time. This can improve the speed and efficiency of beverage service to allow an establishment to achieve desired service with fewer laborers and improve the overall quality of service within the establishment. Improved service can help beverage servers improve their volume and percentage of gratuities and can improve the consumer perception of the establishment. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C illustrate an exemplary service tray  200 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view with drawers  203  in an open position.  FIG. 2B  is a side perspective view of tray  200  with a drawer  203  in an open position and beverages  205  on a serving surface  207 , and  FIG. 2C  is a bottom perspective view of tray  200  with drawer  203  in an open position. In the present embodiment, service tray  200  comprises a channel  209  upon the bottom plane centrally located between retractable drawers  203  running the width of tray  200 . The interior surface area of channel  209  is lined with a lightweight padding; however, channels in some alternate embodiments may not include padding. Furthermore, the channels in some alternate embodiments may be shaped differently; for example, without limitation, in some alternate embodiments the channel may be semicircular or have rounded edges. 
         [0029]    In typical use of the present embodiment, tray  200  can be rested on the forearm of a user at channel  209 . Channel  209  helps to provide balance and stability to tray  200  by cradling the arm of the user. Carrying tray  200  in this way, enables the user to use more muscles to support tray  200 , which means the user can carry a heavier load longer and more comfortably. Channel  209  also provides a way for the user to rest tray  200  on their leg should they have their foot propped up on a chair or bench. 
         [0030]    Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize that some alternate embodiments may comprise additional or different features such as, but not limited to, lighting, clips for holding paper items, built-in calculators, notepads, attached writing utensils, etc. In some alternate embodiments, the drawers can be retractable and accessible from any side of the housing of the tray. In other alternate embodiments, the drawer is non-retractable and accessible from a lid found in the top-surface of the tray. These embodiments may comprise one drawer and lid or multiple drawers and lids. Furthermore, some alternate embodiments may be used to carry items other than beverages including, without limitation, food, dishes, tobacco products, reading materials, souvenirs, etc. 
         [0031]    All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0032]    Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a serving tray with means for containing currency according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the drawers may vary depending upon the particular type of opening and closing mechanism used. The drawers described in the foregoing were directed to spring-loaded implementations; however, similar techniques are to provide drawers that open and close using various different means such as, but not limited to, drawers with handles or knobs that slide manually or drawers with rollers that roll along tracks. Non-spring-loaded implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
         [0033]    Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.