Patent ID: 8297441

Claim:
A beverage tray for holding and transporting beverage containers comprising: a floor; two side walls, each side wall extending from the floor and opposing the other side wall wherein the two side walls include a plurality of U-shaped apertures; a plurality of protrusions, each of the plurality of protrusions comprising a raised surface extending from a given side wall surface, the raised surface facing inwardly toward the inside of the beverage tray; two end walls, each end wall extending from the floor and opposing the other end wall; a plurality of dividing members extending from the floor, the plurality of dividing members configured to contact a beverage container, the plurality of dividing members dividing the floor into a plurality of beverage sections; a plurality of protective contact strips affixed to the dividing members and the plurality of protrusions using an adhesive, the plurality of protective contact strips being positioned on the dividing members and the plurality of protrusions to contact a beverage container to prevent damage and abrasions to the beverage container wherein the plurality of protective contact strips are configured to withstand high temperature washing processes in excess of 200 degrees Fahrenheit and wherein the plurality of protective contact strips are made of small cross-linked closed cell polyethylene, wherein the plurality of protrusions are configured to facilitate enhanced contact between the beverage container and the plurality of protective contact strips, wherein each of the plurality of beverage sections is configured to receive one beverage container.