Patent Description:
As it is well known, for some time now trays have been widely used for serving food, drinks and cutlery.

Said trays are especially used in fast-food restaurants, canteens, fairs or during aperitif sessions or buffet meals.

In these situation, in fact, each person is served with or directly takes a dish with some food, a glass and cutlery that are all disposed in a tray that is made available to the user.

Cutlery are dispensed or taken as loose pieces or, for hygienic reasons, they can be placed in a sealed package.

If such cutlery are stored in a sealed package, in order to take them out of the package, the user must necessarily use both hands to open or tear off the package. It goes without saying that in order to open the package, the user must necessarily have both hands free and therefore will need to place the tray, at least momentarily, on a table or on a temporary supporting surface.

Unfortunately, such a solution is not possible if the user is attending an "informal" occasion, such as an aperitif or a buffet in which there are a large number of diners, but no tables or temporary supporting surfaces are provided. Therefore, in spite of being a hygienic solution, cutlery cannot be provided in a package if diners do not have the possibility to place the tray on the above mentioned surfaces. Precisely for this reason, it is often preferred to use loose cutlery so that the user does not have to open the package, thus greatly facilitating the consumption of the meal while standing up.

Moreover, the trays of the prior art are impaired by the fact that during the consumption of the meal while standing up, any impact or sudden movement of the user can cause the sliding or the displacement of the cutlery, which may consequently fall on the ground. In such a case, the user must necessarily clean and sanitize the cutlery or replace them with new, clean cutlery.

A careful observation of the aforementioned problem has resulted in the present invention, which is believed to solve the problems encountered in the so-called "informal" occasions, namely aperitifs and buffet meals.

<CIT> discloses an item-holder made with a blank of paperboard that can be suitable for supporting items, such as home cutlery. The item-holder comprises a box portion and two panels acting as doors. Fastening means or seats are provided on the bottom of the box portion and on the doors, in such a way that the piece of cutlery is disposed in a position that is substantially parallel to the wall provided with the fastening means. The item-holder is not ideal to be used as cutlery-holder for a tray because it is very difficult for the user to take and replace the cutlery on the item-holder while consuming a meal. Therefore the item-holder cannot be coupled with a tray used for the consumption of a meal.

<CIT> discloses a cutlery tray for kitchen utensils suitable for being generally inserted in a drawer. The cutlery tray comprises a bottom surface, lateral walls and dividers that divide the cutlery holder in several compartments. Slots are provided at the sides of each compartment that allows for positioning a divider to personalize each compartment in order to accommodate a specific type of cutlery. The cutlery are disposed inside the compartments in a position that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface. The cutlery tray disclosed in <CIT> is not ideal for being used as cutlery-holder for a tray because for a user it is rather complicated to take and replace the cutlery on the cutlery holder during the consumption of a meal. Therefore, the cutlery tray cannot be coupled with a tray for the consumption of a meal.

The purpose of the present invention is to devise a tray comprising a cutlery-holder which allows:.

A further purpose of the present invention is to devise a tray comprising a cutlery-holder, wherein the cutlery are dispensed in an enclosed compartment that is hygienic and can be opened by the user with only one hand.

These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention having the features listed in the appended independent claim <NUM>.

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The tray according to the invention is defined by claim <NUM>.

For the sake of clarity, the description of the tray according to the invention is continued with reference to the appended drawings, which are of illustrative and non-limiting value only, wherein:.

With reference to the attached figures, a cutlery-tray set is described according to the invention in <FIG> and according to an example not forming part of the invention in <FIG>.

The cutlery-tray set according to the invention comprises a tray (V) comprising a cutlery-holder (<NUM>) and cutlery (T) suitable for being disposed in the cutlery-holder (<NUM>).

It should be noted that in the present invention the term "cutlery" (T) refers to any kitchen utensil, such as a fork, a spoon, a knife, chopsticks or a straw. Each piece of cutlery (T) comprises a handle (TS) and an operating end (TP), the latter consisting in a blade if the piece of cutlery (T) is a knife, prongs if the piece of cutlery (T) is a fork, an oval concave scoop if the piece of cutlery (T) is a spoon, or an end suitable for being brought to the mouth if the piece of cutlery (T) is a straw or a chopstick. In addition, since a knife cannot be used with one hand only (in the case when the user consumes the meal while standing up), the term "cutlery" (T) also refers to a kitchen utensil similar to poultry shears or scissors that are suitably shaped and made in such a way to be disposed in the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) and to be used with one hand only. In such a case, the working end (TP) consists in the tip of the scissors or of the poultry shears.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the example of a cutlery-holder (<NUM>) of the tray (V) not forming part of the invention comprises:.

In particular, the retention assembly (<NUM>) is conformed in such a way that the cutlery (T) can be alternatively positioned in a position that is substantially parallel to the bottom wall (<NUM>) so that the cutlery (T) do not protrude from the opening (A), and in a position that is orthogonal or inclined with respect to the bottom wall (<NUM>) so that the cutlery (T) protrude from the opening (A), at least partially.

According to the example which is shown in <FIG>, the retention assembly (<NUM>) comprises:.

The retention means (<NUM>) allow to provide the user with the tray (V) with all the cutlery (T) completely arranged inside the compartment and firmly held before use.

On the other hand, the seats (<NUM>) allow the cutlery (T) to be firmly and temporarily held when they are not used by the user. Therefore, the provision of the seats (<NUM>) prevents the cutlery (T) from moving on the tray in case of sudden movements, creating discomfort for the user who is consuming a metal while standing up.

Otherwise said, the seats (<NUM>) make it possible to interrupt and/or resume eating without the risk of dropping the cutlery (T) in case of an abrupt movement, thus avoiding getting the garments of the user and/or of the people nearby dirty.

Furthermore, the fact that the cutlery (T) partially protrude from the opening (A) allows a user to easily and conveniently take and place the cutlery in the corresponding seat (<NUM>) during the meal.

Preferably, said retention means (<NUM>) comprise elastically snap-in retention means.

In particular, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, said elastically snap-in retention means (<NUM>) comprise two notches (<NUM>) in aligned position for each piece of cutlery, each of them comprising two elastically deformable tabs (310a) that are spaced out and are suitable for receiving and holding the handle (TS) of a piece of cutlery (T).

Although two notches in aligned position are shown in <FIG>, nothing would change if said retention means (<NUM>) comprised a single notch or more than two notches for each piece of cutlery.

Alternatively to said notches (<NUM>), the elastically snap-in retention means (<NUM>) may comprise at least one elastically deformable fork for each piece of cutlery (T), which is suitable for receiving and holding the handle (TS) of the piece of cutlery (T).

According to an alternative example, said retention means (<NUM>) may comprise easily released adhesive means. Preferably, said adhesive means are adhesives that do not leave residue on the cutlery (T).

With reference to the examples shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, said plurality of seats (<NUM>) comprises slots or recesses obtained on the lateral wall (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>). The operating ends (TP) of the cutlery (T) are suitable for being exactly inserted in said slots or recesses.

In view of the above, as shown in <FIG>, the handle (TS) protrudes from the tray (V) in upper position and it is extremely simple and quick for the user to insert or remove the operating end (TP) into/from the slot or recess.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) according to the invention is described. In said second embodiment, said retention assembly (<NUM>) comprises a supporting element (<NUM>) for said cutlery (T) comprising a plurality of slots (38f) suitable for housing a portion of the cutlery (T) in such a way as to support said cutlery (T).

The supporting element (<NUM>) is hinged to the bottom wall (<NUM>) or to the lateral wall (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) about an axis (X) parallel to the bottom wall (<NUM>), by means of rotatable connection means that are known to an expert of the field.

By way of example, said rotatable connection means comprise pins (38p) disposed in aligned position which protrude from two lateral sides of the supporting element (<NUM>) and which are rotatably inserted into corresponding aligned holes obtained on opposite lateral walls of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>).

With reference to <FIG>, for illustrative purposes, the supporting element is shown as a parallelepiped block with rectangular faces. However, nothing would change if the supporting element (<NUM>) had a different shape.

The supporting element (<NUM>) can rotate about the axis (X) in such a way that it can alternatively be disposed in:.

Advantageously, said supporting element (<NUM>) further comprises firm retention means (<NUM>) for holding the supporting element (<NUM>) in the raised position and preferably also in the lowered position.

Preferably, said firm retention means (<NUM>) comprise strikers (<NUM>) which protrude at the sides of the supporting element (<NUM>) and which are alternately coupled with first holes (<NUM>) or second holes (<NUM>) formed in the lateral walls (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>).

When the strikers (<NUM>) are coupled with the first holes (<NUM>), the supporting member (<NUM>) is positioned in the lowered position (see <FIG>).

When the strikers (<NUM>) are coupled with the second holes (<NUM>), the supporting element (<NUM>) is positioned in the raised position (see <FIG>).

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, said strikers (<NUM>) are of movable type and consist of clips with a spherical head (or with a head of a different shape) which can be retracted inside the supporting element (<NUM>) and which are constantly subject to an ejecting thrust exerted by thrust means (for example, a spring) which push the clips constantly outwards so that the clips can be inserted into the first holes (<NUM>) or into the second holes (<NUM>) when the clips are aligned with said first holes (<NUM>) or with said second holes (<NUM>).

In such an embodiment, wherein the strikers (<NUM>) consist of clips, starting from a situation wherein the supporting member (<NUM>) is in the lowered position (see <FIG>), the clips will be coupled with the first holes (<NUM>). In order to raise the supporting element (<NUM>) the user can hold one or more pieces of cutlery (T) inserted in the slots (38f) and leverage them so that the supporting element rotates about the axis (X).

During the upward rotation of the supporting element (<NUM>), each clip strikes against the lateral wall (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) and retracts into the supporting element (<NUM>) until the clip is aligned again in snap-in mode with the second hole (<NUM>), thus placing the supporting element (<NUM>) firmly in the raised position (see <FIG>) and therefore supporting the cutlery in inclined position.

Instead of being movable, said strikers (<NUM>) can also be of the fixed type, i.e. they may consist of fixed pins that protrude from the sides of the supporting element (<NUM>) and exploit the deformability of the material used to make the lateral walls (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder in order to be realigned with the holes (<NUM>, <NUM>).

Alternatively, although not shown in the appended figures, said firm retention means (<NUM>) may comprise a string having one end connected to the supporting member (<NUM>) and another end comprising a fastening means suitable for being coupled with a corresponding retention means obtained directly on the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) or on the tray (V).

The cutlery-holder (<NUM>) can be made in one piece with the tray (V) (see the example illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>) or it can be detachable from the tray (V) (see the example illustrated in <FIG>). In the latter case, the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) and the tray (V) are made in separate pieces and the tray (V) comprises a shaped seat (s3) suitable for accommodating said cutlery-holder (<NUM>). The cutlery-holder (<NUM>) may be attached to the shaped seat (s3) by means of fit-in means, adhesive means, or by interference.

Advantageously, the tray (V) also comprises a flexible cover (G), shown in the example in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, which covers the opening (A) that provides access to the compartment (<NUM>).

The cover (G) allows to provide the user with the cutlery (T) - not yet used - inside a closed compartment in order to preserve the hygiene and cleanliness of the cutlery (T) itself.

The cover (G) and/or said cutlery-holder (<NUM>) comprise connection means that allow the cover (G) to be connected to the cutlery-holder (<NUM>).

As mentioned above, the cover (G) provides the user with a closed compartment wherein the cutlery (T) are placed before use. Otherwise said, the cover (G) performs the same function as the sealed package used in the prior art. However, unlike the sealed package of the prior art, the cover (G) is extremely easier to detach and it is necessary to use only one hand to do it.

In fact, in order to detach the cover (G), firstly the user will hold a protruding edge of the cover (G) with the fingers of one hand and then will detach the cover (G) with enough force to overcome the retention force exerted by said connection means.

Once the cover (G) has been detached, the user can then unfasten the pieces of cutlery (T) one by one from the retention means (<NUM>) and can insert them into the seats (<NUM>). The detachment and the insertion into the seats (<NUM>) can be carried out easily with one hand, while the user holds the tray (V) with the other hand.

Once all the pieces of cutlery (T) are firmly positioned in a vertical or inclined position in the seats, the user can take the most suitable piece of cutlery (T) to eat his meal.

The compartment (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) can also accommodate.

With reference to the example not forming part of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, advantageously, the tray (V) further comprises a central dish-holding compartment (<NUM>) suitable for accommodating a dish.

The dish-holding compartment (<NUM>) comprises a bottom wall, a lateral wall, and retention means suitably configured to prevent the dish from moving with respect to the tray (V).

Claim 1:
Cutlery-tray set comprising cutlery (T) and a tray (V) comprising a cutlery-holder (<NUM>); said cutlery-holder (<NUM>) comprising:
- a bottom wall (<NUM>) and a lateral wall (<NUM>) that rises from said bottom wall (<NUM>);
- a compartment (<NUM>) defined by said bottom wall (<NUM>) and by said lateral wall (<NUM>) wherein cutlery (T) are suitable for being stored;
- an opening (A) that provides access to said compartment (<NUM>);
- a retention assembly (<NUM>) disposed in the compartment (<NUM>) and suitably configured to firmly hold the cutlery (T) with respect to the tray (V);
wherein said retention assembly (<NUM>) is suitably configured in such a way that the cutlery (T) can be disposed alternately in a position that is substantially parallel to the bottom wall (<NUM>), in such a way that the cutlery (T) do not protrude from the opening (A), and in a position that is orthogonal or inclined with respect to the bottom wall in such a way that the cutlery (T) protrude from the opening (A), at least partially;
wherein said retention assembly (<NUM>) comprises a supporting element (<NUM>) for said cutlery (T) comprising a plurality of slots (38f) suitable for housing a portion of the cutlery (T) in such a way to support the cutlery (T);
charachterized in that said supporting element (<NUM>) is hinged to the bottom wall (<NUM>) or to the lateral wall (<NUM>) of the cutlery-holder (<NUM>) around an axis (X) parallel to the bottom wall (<NUM>) in such a way to be alternately disposed in:
- a lowered position, wherein the supporting element (<NUM>) supports the cutlery (T) is a position that is substantially parallel to the bottom wall (<NUM>);
- a raised position, wherein the supporting element (<NUM>) supports the cutlery (T) in the substantially inclined or orthogonal position with respect to the bottom wall (<NUM>).