Patent Document

FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates in general to foodservice containers, and more particularly to transporting and placing foodservice containers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the foodservice industry, foodservice containers enable foodservice staff to transport foodstuffs, dishes, and other items to and from food serving areas. 
         [0003]    One example of a foodservice container is a bus tub, which can be used to load and carry dirty dishes from a restaurant&#39;s dining room to the kitchen area. Another example of a foodservice container is a serving tray, which can include, but is not limited to, a steam table pan. Serving trays are typically used to transport foodstuffs from a food preparation area to a food serving area, such as a dining table, steam table, or the like. 
         [0004]    However, conventional foodservice containers are not necessarily designed for optimum operational efficiency. For example, a food serving tray that bears fresh foodstuffs or has been in a steam table for a significant period of time may be hot or have substantial condensation on some or all of its surface. The outside of a bus tub may be contaminated with water, grease, or food particles during use. In addition, some foodservice containers may leak liquids. Use of foodservice containers in these or other conditions may increase a risk of an undesirable water, grease, or some other contaminant being left in a food serving area, such as on a table, chair, or the like, which may damage consumer assets, such as a diner&#39;s clothing. Thus, conventional foodservice containers are less than perfect. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure allow a device configured to facilitate handling of a foodservice container in a way that prevents a lower portion of the foodservice container from coming into contact with a dining-room surface. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the disclosure, a device includes a sleeve and two or more handles. The sleeve has an open top and includes a bottom, which covers at least a part of the lower portion of the bus tub, and one or more side portions, which extend less than the full height of the bus tub. The sleeve prevents the lower part of a bus tub placed in the sleeve from coming into contact with a dining-room surface. The handles facilitate carrying the bus tub, and can be coupled to a part of the sleeve so that, when the bus tub is inserted into the sleeve, the handles are on generally opposite sides of the bus tub. The bottom and the side portions can be coupled together, with an attachment cover protecting the point of attachment. The sleeve can be sized to facilitate removal of the lower part of the bus tub before placing the bus tub on a kitchen surface. The handles can be coupled to each other to form a handle assembly which can be made from a single length of material. Some or all the sleeve can be made of multiple layers, and part or all of the handle assembly can be located between an inner and outer layer. Layers can be made of different materials, with one or more layers being made to resist liquid absorption. 
         [0007]    The device can include an insulated sleeve to prevent the lower part of a steam table pan placed in the insulated sleeve from coming into contact with a dining-room surface. The insulated sleeve can be sized to facilitate removal of the lower part of the steam table pan prior to placing the steam table pan on a kitchen surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Aspects of this disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a foodservice container caddy according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an end view of a foodservice container caddy according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a foodservice container caddy according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are described in such detail as to clearly communicate to one of ordinary skill how to make and use the claimed invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0013]    A foodservice container caddy (hereinafter referred to as a “Caddy”) according to various embodiments can be used to transport and place foodservice containers without portions of the foodservice containers coming into contact with a surface. In addition, such a device can enable foodservice staff to handle foodservice containers without risk of personal exposure to hazardous surfaces. Note that although Caddies designed for bus tubs and steam table pans are used as the primary examples throughout, some embodiments of a Caddy can be used for handling various different foodservice containers. 
         [0014]    As used herein, the terms “container” or “foodservice container” are used interchangeably unless otherwise specified. Foodservice containers include, but are not limited to, tubs, trays, pans, or the like used in the foodservice industry or foodservice establishments such as restaurants, dining halls, cafeterias and cafés. Bus tubs, steam table pans, and food serving trays are examples of foodservice containers. In some embodiments, the container can have a shape that includes an upper portion and a lower portion. For example, a container might have a bottom, one or more sides, and a lip structure, where the bottom and a lower portion of the sides make up the lower portion of the container, and the lip structure and an upper portion of the sides make up the upper portion of the container. In some embodiments, the lip structure of the container can be a circumferential “lip” that extends along the top of all sides of the container, handle structures integrated into the structure of the container, or the like. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, a Caddy allows foodservice staff to handle and utilize a container without portions of the container coming into contact with a surface. For example, a bus tub, which can be utilized by foodservice staff to clean a dining-room table and collect used diningware after consumers have departed, may accumulate water, grease, or some other liquids on its outer surfaces after the bus tub has been deposited on a kitchen surface to unload the used diningware to be cleaned. Placing the bus tub into a Caddy can help ensure that, when the bus tub is carried to and placed on a surface or dining-room surface, any liquids on the outer surface of the container do not touch or otherwise contaminate the dining-room surface, thereby preventing such liquids from damaging the dining-room surface or damaging clothing or other personal assets of customers. As used herein, the term “dining-room surface” includes, but is not limited to, a dining-room table, dining-room floor, dining-room upholstery, or the like. 
         [0016]    In another example, a steam table pan, which can be utilized by foodservice staff to deliver cooked food to a steam table in a dining room, may, in addition to accumulating water on its outer surface from steam condensation, have surfaces that are too hot to be safely handled by foodservice staff without some form of thermal protection device, such as a thermal glove. Some embodiments of the Caddy can incorporate materials that have insulating properties to ensure that, when the steam table pan is carried to or from a steam table, any liquids that have accumulated on the outer surfaces of the steam table pan do not drip onto dining room surfaces, and that foodservice staff, dining-room surfaces, and the like are not damaged, injured, or otherwise harmed by the temperature of the steam table pan. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the Caddy can include a sleeve (also referred to herein as a “receptacle”, “sheath”, and the like) and handles. In some embodiments, the sleeve can be made of multiple layers of materials, some of which are different from other layers. For example, in some embodiments, the sleeve can include an outer layer that comes into contact with dining-room surfaces. The sleeve can also include an inner layer that comes into contact with a container placed in the Caddy. In some embodiments, the inner layer can have insulating properties. Various layers of the sleeve can be made of materials such as fabric, vinyl, leather, plastic, metal, wood, or the like. One or more of the Sleeve layers may be waterproof, water-resistant, grease-proof, grease-resistant, proofed or resistant against absorbing or retaining other liquids. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the handles can be irreversibly attached to the sleeve. For example, where the sleeve is formed or constructed from a single piece of material, the handles can be formed or constructed out of the same piece of material. In some other embodiments, the handles can be reversibly or irreversibly attached to the sleeve via one or more various attachment means including, but not limited to, snap-buttons, zippers, adhesives, stitching, stapling, or the like. In some embodiments, the handles can be holding straps, lengths of cord or rope, other pieces of material, or the like. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the handles can be coupled to each other to form a handle assembly which may be formed or constructed from a single piece of material including, but not limited to, fabric, vinyl, leather, plastic, metal, wood, or the like. In some embodiments, some or all of the handle assembly or handles can extend on one or more sides of some or all portions that make up the sleeve. 
         [0020]    A handle assembly can extend along the outer layers of the sleeve, or between two or more layers of some or all portions that make up the sleeve. In some embodiments, part of the handle assembly extends along the inner layers of the side portions of the sleeve, while part of the handle assembly extends between the inner layer and outer layer of the bottom portion. The portion of the handle assembly which extends between two or more layers of a portion of the sleeve can be attached to one or more of the layers. In some embodiments, a part of the handle assembly that extends between the inner layer and outer layer of the bottom portion of a sleeve can be attached to the inner layer via stitching. In other embodiments, parts of the handle assembly are attached to both inner and outer layers via one or more forms of attachment including, but not limited to, stitching, stapling, adhesives, soldering, welding, or the like. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the various portions of the Caddy can be attached to each other using various forms of attachment. For example, in some embodiments where the Caddy includes two side portions and one bottom portion, the side portions can be attached to each other via stitching that extends through some or all layers of material that make of the side portions, and the side portions may be attached to the bottom portion via an adhesive. In some other embodiments, other forms of attachment or combinations thereof may be utilized, including, but not limited to, stapling, soldering, welding, or the like. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, an additional piece of material covers the edge along which an attachment between two or more portions of the sleeve extends. For example, an attachment cover can extend along the edge between the side portions and the bottom portion, with stitching extending between one or more points on the attachment cover and through some or all of the layers that make up the side portions, bottom portion, or both. The attachment cover may be coupled to the portions by a different form of attachment. In some embodiments, the side portions are attached to the bottom portion via stitching, while the attachment cover can be attached to both portions via one or more of adhesives, stapling, another set of stitching, soldering, welding, or the like. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the sleeve of the Caddy can be sized to fit over the lower portion of a foodservice container in such a manner that the fit is snug, yet still enables the foodservice container to be removed from the Caddy with minimal effort. For example, in some embodiments the sleeve of the Caddy may be sized to fit snugly and removably over the lower portion of a bus tub, where the sleeve must ensure that the outer surfaces of the bus tub do not contaminate or otherwise damage or room surfaces, foodservice staff, consumers, or the like, yet also enable the bus tub to be quickly removed from the sleeve to unload dirty dishes or the like. In some other embodiments, the sleeve of the Caddy can be sized to fit loosely over the lower portion of a foodservice container such that the foodservice container can be removed from the Caddy as quickly as possible. For example, in some embodiments the sleeve of the Caddy may be sized to fit loosely over the lower portion of a serving tray, where the serving tray must be removed from the sleeve often. In other embodiments, the sleeve of the Caddy can be sized to fit tightly over the lower portion of a foodservice container such that the Caddy forms a tight seal around the lower portion of the foodservice container. For example, an insulated sleeve of the Caddy can be sized to fit tightly over the lower portion of a serving tray, where quick removal of the foodservice container from the Caddy is a lower priority. 
         [0024]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , embodiments of a Foodservice Container Caddy (“Caddy”)  102  are illustrated and discussed.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view  100  of Caddy  102 , which is adapted to receive part of container  103 , which has a lower portion  105  and an upper portion  107 . Caddy  102  can include a sleeve, made up of a bottom portion  104  and one or more side portions  106 , and two or more handles  108 . In some embodiments, the sleeve of Caddy  102  can have one or more of various types of shapes including, but not limited to, generally rectangular, circular, elliptic, hexagonal, some other polygonal shape, or the like. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve of Caddy  102  has a generally rectangular shape. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, bottom portion  104  and side portions  106  can include one or more layers of material. In the illustrated embodiment, side portions  106  include an inner layer  120  and an outer layer  116 . One or more layers can have certain properties including, but not limited to, waterproofing or water-resistance, liquidproofing or liquid-resistance, water-absorbance, impermeability to some or all elements or compounds, heat resistance, stain resistance, insulating properties, opacity, transparency, varying levels of translucence, or the like. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the layers that make up a bottom portion  104  or side portion  106  are attached to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the inner layer  120  and outer layer  116  that make up side portion  106  are attached to each other via stitching  114  that extends through both layers. In some embodiments, the layers can fold at or near the point of attachment. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, inner layer  120  and outer layer  116  of side portions  106  can be folded inwards upon themselves near the point of attachment such that stitching  114  can pass through each layer more than once. The point of attachment between two layers can vary in some embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the area of attachment between inner layer  120  and outer layer  116  on the side portions  106  is near the top edge of the side portion. Other forms of attachment to attach layers that make up a bottom portion  104  or side portion  106 , such as adhesives, stapling, soldering, welding, or the like, which may or may not extend partially or fully through one or more layers, exist between two or more layers, or attach one or more layers in another manner are contemplated and should be considered to be encompassed by the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, Caddy  102  is adapted to receive a container  103 . Container  103  can be a bus tub, a steam table pan, some other foodservice container, or the like. In some embodiments, Caddy  102  is configured to receive only a lower portion  105  of container  103 , leaving an upper portion  107  of container  103  to extend above the side portions  106  of Caddy  102 . For example, in some embodiments, the side portions  106  may extend only four inches above the bottom portion  104 , such that the Caddy  102  is adapted to receive a container  103  which features a combined height of the lower portion  105  and upper portion  107  that exceeds four inches. In some other embodiments, container  103  may feature a circumferential lip that extends substantially around part or all of the upper portion  107  of container  103 , and Caddy  102  can be configured to receive only the lower portion  105  of container  103  so that the circumferential lip remains above the side portions  106  of Caddy  102 . In some embodiments, Caddy  102  may be sized to fit over the lower portion  105  in such a manner that ensures a snug fit between Caddy  102  and container  103  yet enables container  103  to be quickly removed from the sleeve of Caddy  102 . In some other embodiments, Caddy  102  may be sized to fit more tightly or loosely over the lower portion  105  of container  103 . 
         [0028]    Where more than one side portion  106  make up the sides of Caddy  102 , side portions  106  can be attached to each other via one or more forms of attachment. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, two side portions  106  are attached to each other via stitching  118  that can extend through one or more layers of one or both side portions  106 . Other forms of attachment to attach side portions  106 , such as adhesives, stapling, soldering, welding, or the like, which may or may not extend partially or fully through one or more side portions  106 , exist between two or more side portions  106 , or attach one or more side portions  106  in another manner are possible and should be considered to be encompassed by the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0029]    Handles  108  can be formed or constructed of a single length of fabric that is looped back upon and attached to itself, via stitching, adhesive, stapling, or some other method, to form a single handle assembly that extends adjacent to at least one layer that makes up bottom portion  104  and side portion  106 . In some other embodiments, handles  108  can be formed or constructed of a single piece of material formed or constructed from a mold, cast, or the like. In some embodiments, a handle assembly can be formed or constructed from one or more pieces of material. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a handle assembly is formed or constructed from two handles  108  and two straps (not shown) which are stitched together. The straps in the illustrated embodiment extend below bottom portion  104  and are attached to the inner layer  120  of bottom portion  104  via stitching  110 , which can extend partially or fully through one or more layers of bottom portion  104  and partially or fully through the strap itself 
         [0030]    Where one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  are formed or constructed of more than one piece of material, some or all of the handle assembly can extend between layers that make up one or more side portion  106  and bottom portion  104 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, bottom portion  104  is made up of an inner layer  120  (shown) and an outer layer (not shown), and the straps that are attached to handles  108  to make up a handle assembly, which are not shown but are denoted by stitching  110 , extend between the inner layer  120  and the outer layer (not shown) that make up bottom portion  104 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  can include one or more layers that have insulating properties, including but not limited to some type of thermal insulation. For example and not by way of limitation, in some embodiments where side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  include an inner layer  120  and an outer layer  116  (not shown for bottom portion  104 ) that are attached to each other to make the sleeve of Caddy  102 , one or more layers of insulating material can be located between the inner layer  120  and the outer layer  116 . 
         [0032]    In some embodiments where Caddy  102  is used to receive a container  103  that has hot or cold outer surfaces, one or more layers of insulating material located in side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  can protect foodservice staff and other objects, surfaces, and the like from being burned, injured, damaged, or otherwise affected by the hot surfaces of container  103 . For example, in some embodiments where container  103  is a steam table pan, the surfaces of which may be hot, insulation layers in one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  can help protect the foodservice staff handling Caddy  102  and others from being affected by the hot surfaces of container  103 . Other types of insulation layers can make up one or more portions of Caddy  102 . For example, an inner layer  120 , an outer layer  116 , or both, making up one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  may have insulating properties. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, side portions  106  are attached to bottom portion  104  to form a sleeve. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, side portions  106  are attached to bottom portion  104  via stitching  122  that extends one or more layers of one or both of the side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . Other forms of attachment used to attach side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  are possible and should be considered to be encompassed by the scope of this disclosure. Such forms of attachment can include, but are not limited to, adhesives, stapling, soldering, welding, or the like and can extend partially or fully through one or more layers of the sleeve, lie between two or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , or attach one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  in some other manner. 
         [0034]    Furthermore, in some embodiments, an attachment cover  112  can cover the point of attachment between one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, attachment cover  112  covers the point of attachment between side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , with stitching  122  extending from one side of attachment cover  112 , through one or more layers of one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , and, in some embodiments, to another side of attachment cover  112  (not shown). In some embodiments, an attachment cover  112  can protect the point of attachment between one or more portion from deteriorating due to friction, frequent impacts, thermal stresses, or the like. In some embodiments, an attachment cover  112  can be integrated into the attachment of side portions  106  to each other. 
         [0035]    Where some or all of the inner layer  120  of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  is waterproof, water-resistant, grease-proof, grease-resistant, liquid-proof, liquid-resistant, or the like, Caddy  102  may be adapted to catch and trap liquids leaked from or on the outside of container  103 . For example, in embodiments where container  103  is a steam table pan, which may have steam condensate on its outer surfaces, the condensate could drain into the sleeve formed or constructed by side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , thereby preventing such condensate from dripping onto other surfaces, including but not limited to dining room tables, floors, and upholstery. In some other embodiments, container  103  is a bus tub, which may have water, grease, or some other liquid on its outer surfaces. In such an embodiment, the liquid could drain into the sleeve formed or constructed by side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , thereby preventing such liquid from dripping onto other surfaces, including but not limited to dining-room surfaces. In some such embodiments, Caddy  102  can be provided with an absorbent inner layer (not illustrated) that may or may not be removable. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , embodiments of a Foodservice Container Caddy (“Caddy”) are illustrated and discussed.  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional width view  200  of the embodiment of Caddy  102  illustrated in  FIG. 1  from near the midsection of Caddy  102 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of Caddy  102  where side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  that make up the sleeve of Caddy  102  are each made up of inner layer  120 , outer layer  116 , and an internal layer  204 , which in some embodiments has insulating properties. In some embodiments, the inner layer  120  on the bottom portion  104  may be different from, or be made of a different material than the inner layer  120  on one or more of the side portions  106 , and the outer layer  120  on the bottom portion  104  may be different from, or be made of a different material than the outer layer  120  on one or more of the side portions  106 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, some parts of the handle assembly illustrated and discussed in  FIG. 1  can extend between layers that make up one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment where the handle assembly illustrated and discussed in  FIG. 1  includes handles  108  (not illustrated) and two straps  202 , the straps  202  can extend through bottom portion  104  between the inner layer  120  of bottom portion  104  and the outer layer  116  of bottom portion  104 . The straps  202  can, in some embodiments, be attached to one or more layers by stitching, stapling, adhesives, welding, soldering, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, straps  202  are attached to the inner layer  120  of bottom portion  104  by stitching  110  that can extend partially or fully through straps  202 , but not the outer layer  116 . In some other embodiments, stitching  110 , or some other form of attachment, can be used to attach straps  202  to both the inner layer  120  and the outer layer  116 . In some other embodiments, straps  202  can extend between two other different layers that make up one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, as discussed above in  FIG. 1 , bottom portion  104  and side portions  106  can be attached via stitching  122  that extends through one or more layers of one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, bottom portion  104  and side portions  106  are attached via stitching  122  that extends through both the inner layer  120  and outer layer  116  of both a side portion  106  and the bottom portion  104 . In some embodiments, the stitching can also extend between one or more sides of attachment cover  112 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, stitching  122  extends through two sides of attachment cover  112 . In some embodiments, the attachment cover  112  may not be present. In some other embodiments, other forms of attachment might be used to attach side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  including, but not limited to, stitching extending through one or more layers of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , stapling, adhesive between portions, and the like Inner layer  120  and outer layer  116  of side portions  106  can be attached via stitching  114 , as illustrated, by adhesive, by stapling, or by some other form of attachment. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, internal layers  204  do not extend through an entire side portion  106  or bottom portion  104 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, internal layers  204  do not extend throughout the entire interior of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  between inner layer  120  and outer layer  116 , as some of the interior of bottom portion  104  is occupied by strap  202  and adjustment space for stitching  122 ,  114 , and  110 . Some or all internal layers  204  of one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  can extend throughout the interior of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 , such that the internal layer  204  is stitched, stapled, or attached in some other manner to one or more of the inner layer  120  or outer layer  116 , or both, that make up side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, a sleeve made up of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104  may be formed or constructed of a single piece of material, including, but not limited to, a single cut piece of fabric, a piece of material formed or constructed from a mold or cast, or the like. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , embodiments of a Foodservice Container Caddy (“Caddy”)  102  are illustrated and discussed.  FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional side view  300  of Caddy  102  in an embodiment where handle assembly  302  includes handles  108  and one strap  202 . In some other embodiments, additional straps  202  may be present and be attached, via stitching, stapling, adhesives, or some other form of attachment, to two or more handles  108 . Some embodiments of Caddy  102  may feature portions of strap  202  extending between inner layer  120  and outer layer  116 , or some other combination of one of the above layers and an internal layer (not shown) of some or all of one or more of side portions  106  and bottom portion  104 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, strap  202  extends between inner layer  120  and outer layer  116  of bottom portion  104 , but strap  202  extends adjacent to the inner layer  120  of side portions  106 . In some other embodiments, strap  202  can extend adjacent to the outer layer  116  of side portions  106 . 
         [0042]    It will be understood that the Foodservice Container Caddy can include other components, elements, or interfaces without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, although particular embodiments have been discussed above, the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but includes subject matter encompassed by the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0043]    It will be understood that, although certain embodiments employing particular materials and forms of attachment are illustrated, other materials and forms of attachment can be used without departing from the present scope of the disclosure. For example, adhesives between materials can be used as a form of attachment. In addition, various arrangements of particular components can be employed to accomplish the same functions disclosed herein, also without departing from the present scope of the disclosure.

Technology Category: 1