Abstract: A feeding cup for infants has a main reservoir communicating through a channel to a feeding spout. Breast milk placed in the reservoir enters the spout via the channel when the cup is tilted or when the sidewalls of the reservoir are compressed to create a pumping action. The reservoir is curved to fit a user's hand and has sidewalls that are thicker than the walls of the channel. The spout is designed to allow drop-by-drop dispensing of the breast milk.

Abstract: Tray is engineered for receiving food, in particular on board aeroplanes, vehicles or other transport means, wherein the tray comprises a tray body, on which a first receiving surface for receiving food is formed, and a receiving part extending above the first receiving surface and spaced therefrom, on which upper side of which a second receiving surface for receiving food extending above the first receiving surface and spaced therefrom. Since the receiving surfaces are disposed on different planes, the actual area of the tray may be slight, in which case the receiving surfaces disposed lying above one another together form a receiving surface which may be substantially larger than the area of the tray. The tray is therefore particularly suitable for use in restricted spatial conditions, for example on board aeroplanes. The vertical dimensions of the tray may be such that the tray body with the receiving part placed thereon fits into a slide-in unit of an existing trolley.

Abstract: A travel tray includes a flat support surface having a raised lip extending around its peripheral edge. A concave front wall is configured and dimensioned to accommodate the natural abdominal curvature of a user's torso. An aperture is formed in the support surface to receive a tapered beverage container of relatively large size. An adaptor is detachably secured to an annular raised lip that circumscribes the aperture. The adaptor reduces the diameter of the aperture so that it can accommodate a beverage container of smaller size. The adaptor ring is stored beneath the travel tray when not in use. The annular raised lip that circumscribes the aperture prevents spilled food or liquids from entering the aperture and spilling onto the user's lap. The raised lip that extends around the peripheral edge of the flat support surface provides the same function.

Abstract: A plate for use in evaluating food or other goods, includes a base surface and a plurality of spaced partitions extending upwardly from the base surface. The partitions are arranged to establish a plurality of segregated sections for receiving food or other goods to be evaluated. Each section has associated therewith, evaluation indicia to facilitate recordation of the results of an evaluation of the food or other goods received in the corresponding sections. In a preferred embodiment, the plate is generally circular with a central hub and a generally annular flange extending from the base surface proximate the outer circumference of the plate. In the preferred embodiment, the partitions extend radially between the central hub and the annular flange to establish the sections.

Abstract: A microwave steam tray is made of a thermo-formed co-polymer polypropylene quality food grade plastic. The microwave steam tray comprises a plastic container having a dish portion and a connected lid. The dish portion includes a bottom surface with four sidewalls extending therefrom to define a dish interior. A plurality of ribs are raised from the bottom surface to provide a cooking plane. Steam channels are formed between the ribs. The ribs extend radially from a moisture reservoir positioned within the dish interior. The moisture reservoir includes a retaining wall having a cup portion formed within the retaining wall. Recesses are formed within the retaining wall. Liquid based food products may be placed in the moisture cylinder during cooking. Steam generated from the moisture reservoir easily travels down the radial steam channels.

Abstract: A party tray for holding refreshments comprises a panel with an axis, a periphery and a thumbhole through the panel adjacent to the panel periphery and substantially along the axis. The user's thumb of either hand is directed through the thumbhole toward the panel periphery and the panel extends laterally on either side of the user's forearm. The panel may be an elongated ellipse wherein the axis is the major axis of the ellipse. Further, the panel may include a plurality of compartments configured to hold such things as eating utensils, beverage containers and food.

Abstract: A container designed for the easy transportation of a beverage and a meal or snack when closed, and for the convenient upright retention of the beverage when open. The container includes a beverage retention well positioned in the container's interior and a corresponding beverage holder, positioned above the retention well, in the container's lid.

Abstract: A dinner tray for safely carrying food, a number of cups and condiments includes a body having substantially flat top surface, a pair of sides, a pair of ends, and a surrounding annular lip. At least two octagonal shaped cup holding compartments having stepped down inner surfaces with slit openings and flat bottom surfaces therein to hold various size cups. A flat food holding surface is recessed into the top surface, and an elongated condiment reservoir is formed in the flat food holding surface extending between the pair of sides. The dinner tray may take several configurations, including one with two cup holding compartments at one end and the condiment reservoir at another end with the flat food holding surface therebetween. Or, the dinner tray may include one or two cup holding compartments at each end and the food holding surface and condiment reservoir formed between the end cup holding compartments.

Abstract: A food tray delivery system is provided having a carrying tray, preferably two food trays, and preferably two lids. The carrying tray has a base and a generally upwardly extending sidewall, with the base having an upper surface and a lower surface. The carrying tray is adapted to carry the two food trays. Preferably each food tray has three food retention areas, with each food retention area having a food retention area upper surface and a generally upwardly extending sidewall, with adjacent food retention areas separated by a transverse sidewall. Each transverse sidewall extends between opposing sidewall surfaces of the food tray. Each food tray also has a bottom surface having downwardly depending ribs adapted to cooperate with a lid to permit stacking. Each lid preferably has a recessed area, as well as being adapted to cooperatively fit together with a food tray.

Abstract: A lap tray having an elongated body portion to be supported across the upper legs of a seated person providing recessed areas for food and beverage containers and having downwardly extending vertical projections at the ends of the body portion to engage the outer thighs to retain the tray positioned.

Abstract: A formed plastic container having a cover portion and a bottom portion, also includes a latch. The latch has a projection extending out from the cover, and a locking flap extending out from the bottom that flexes to meet and hold the projection. In one embodiment, the projection includes a tab, and the locking flap includes a rib that lifts the flap above the tab when closed, in order to reduce the possibility of the tab coming away from the flap.

Abstract: A supplemental feeding cup 10 for infants wherein the feeding cup 10 comprises a main receptacle member 20 having an internal channel 27 formed in the front wall 25 of the receptacle member 20. The internal channel 27 is in open fluid communication with an auxiliary reservoir member 30 projects outwardly from the front wall 25 of the receptacle member 20.

Abstract: A food service container comprises a tray and a lid preferably composed of a leak-resistant, absorptive moldable material such as molded fiber. The tray has a first body portion and a first rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the first body portion. The first body portion has a primary food storage compartment and at least one beverage cup holding pocket. The beverage cup holding pocket forms resilient, deflectable side wall sections allowing the pocket to firmly hold beverage cups of different sizes. The lid is hingedly mounted to the tray. The lid includes a second body portion and a second rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the second body portion. The lid is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When the lid is in the closed position, the lid covers the primary food storage compartment.

Abstract: A container for food products which includes a large, smooth, continuously curved label area on a front wall, a large label area on a top cover, and a pair of stabilizing projections such as beads associated with the bottom edge of the front wall to stabilize the container in a display position in which the top wall is tilted up to an inclined upright position rather than a horizontal position, with the stabilizing projections engaging a support surface on which the container is supported. In its preferred embodiment, the container comprises a pair of compartments joined by a generally horizontal web having a flange which includes a flat stabilizing front transverse edge portion to cooperate with the stabilizing projections on the curved bottom edge of the front wall. The compartments comprise a larger front compartment and a smaller rear compartment to maintain an acceptably low center of mass for satisfactory stability when the container is in its inclined position.

Abstract: A pallet for holding food items and wine goblets in one hand is provided. The pallet has a body with a top surface for placing food items. At one end there is a post and at the other end a brace, both extending from the underside of the body. The brace rests on the forearm and the post is held in the hand to hold and support the pallet. Keyhole slots are provided to hold wine goblets.

Abstract: An improved tray which can be held and stabilized using one hand and forearm is disclosed. The surface of the tray is positioned away from the forearm so that hot foods can be provided on the tray surface without injury or discomfort to one using the tray. A stabilizing member which has a shape generally conforming to the curvature of the forearm is positioned on one side of the tray and on the opposite side extends a cup holder. The stabilizer element and cup holder extend downwardly from the tray an equal distance which enables the device to be rested on a table or flat surface. A further feature of the invention allows for the nesting of the trays on top of one another for storage or shipping.

Abstract: A container (10) includes a base portion (11) and a cover (12). The base portion (11) has a bottom surface (22) with opposed walls (23, 24, 25, 26) extending upwardly therefrom to form an open top to be closed by the cover (12). A handle (30) is formed on opposed corners (27). A flap (18) is positioned on one of the corners (17) of the cover (12), the corner (17) being selected such that the flap (17) will not be positioned over a corner (27) of the base portion (11) carrying a handle (30). The base portion (11) is also divided by a wall (31) of the shape of an inverted U so that the base portion (11) of one container (10) can be stacked on the base portion of a like container.

Abstract: A hand-held, self-contained support plate for carrying or serving foods and beverages and for carrying accessories such as utensils, toothpicks, and napkins is disclosed. The plate includes a planar support surface into which are recessed a main compartment and side compartment for receiving foods, a sauce compartment for receiving sauces, condiments, and the like, and a beverage compartment having a raised peripheral edge for increasing support for the beverage container. The plate includes an aperture through which the user inserts a thumb to grip the plate, the aperture being placed so as to enable the user to avoid harmful contact with hot or cold materials supported by the plate and to allow a knuckle of the index finger of the hand to support the beverage container compartment and promote stability of the plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a food tray wherein a portion of the food tray is molded into a food bowl for holding the food. The food bowl includes a food bowl base, a food bowl wall extending away from the food bowl base, and a food bowl rim positioned on an opposite side of the food bowl wall from the food bowl base. A grip is provided on the tray, and connected and positioned with respect to the food bowl wall for providing a grip to the hand of the user. The grip provides a grip with the thumb gripping on one side of the tray and all other fingers of the hand being able to spread or fan out to grip on an under side of the tray opposite the one side. The grip includes a thumb grip edge which is preferably placed at the inside base of the thumb. The present invention also has a palm extension which is connected to the grip and fits into the palm of the hand that is holding the tray. The palm extension has a palm extension edge which extends into the palm of the user for support.

Abstract: A plate for serving food at social gatherings where the guests may stand and eat at the same time, has a depression in its center, which on the upper surface of the plate can hold a cup, and on the lower surface may serve as a handle by which the plate can be held, so that the other hand of the person holding the plate will be free to hold a utensil to eat the food on the plate. In a preferred embodiment, the serving plate is circular, and the depression in the center of the plate is frustoconical or cylindrical. On the lower surface of the plate, the depression has ridges by which it may be more effectively gripped. On the upper surface of the plate, there is an outer rim extending around the circumference of the plate, and an inner rim extending around the depression in the center of the plate, and a food holding area between the outer rim and the inner rim, that is at a lower level than the outer rim and the inner rim.

Abstract: Trays for carrying out beverage cups having at least one cell to support upright at least one cup in each cell, each of said cells having one fixed side wall and one opposing pressure side wall, said pressure side wall being directed downwardly and inwardly of the cell, and free at its lower end to be flexed outwardly by the entry of a cup or cups, said pressure side wall having convoluted areas between downwardly and inwardly directed ribs in order to provide lateral support between two of said ribs for each of said at least one cup, and to provide lateral flexibility across the width of said pressure wall.

Abstract: A taco plate of a circular configuration which includes a base portion, a part of which is planar and the other part of which has integrally extending taco shell supporting walls thereabove. A circular rim is disposed around the entire plate, and the entire plate is made of one material which is integral to all portions of the plate and is of one thickness for a lightweight plate. The walls extend to the height of the encircling rim around the base and are integral with the rim, and the upper and lower plate profile surface is similar for stacking the plates adjacent each other.

Abstract: A food and beverage plate is provided having a thumb slot disposed on an upper surface along a periphery of the food and beverage plate parallel to an axis passing through a center of the food and beverage plate. A beverage recess is disposed in the food and beverage plate proximate the thumb slot on a first side of the axis and a food recess is disposed in the food and beverage plate proximate the thumb slot substantially on a second side of the axis.

Abstract: A combined comestible and liquid container carrier having a unitary base with a central, inverse frustoconically shaped sleeve for receiving a liquid container, and two symmetrically disposed depressions, each for receiving a comestible. Each depression has a lid connected to it by a living hinge structure. When closed, the inboard side edge wall of each lid is an extension of the sleeve, such that a container inserted into the sleeve will be complementarily received by both the sleeve and lid edge.

Abstract: An insulated food storage system comprising a heat insulating base and a heat insulating cover together defining a cavity. A thermal plate fits within the cavity, the thermal plate having a chamber containing wax which solidifies in the temperature range 75.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. So that food located within the cavity together with the thermal plate is maintained substantially within that temperature range as the wax which has been previously heated and liquefied cools and solidifies. The wax in one embodiment is in a metal tray closed by a metal lid within the chamber in the thermal plate. The chamber is in a central region of the thermal plate and the edges have no wax within the space between the top and the bottom walls of the edges. A plastics material with very low thermal conductivity is used for the thermal plate.

Abstract: A portable food tray for supporting food and a drink container which is adapted to be securely and comfortably held by one hand of the user. The food tray is formed from a sheet material and has a generally flat surface portion and a cup-like portion for supporting a drink container. An interconnecting wall portion connects the cup-like portion to the flat surface portion so that sufficient space is provided to permit the thumb and at least the index finger of the user to surround and grip the outside of the cup-like portion. Also, the top of the cup-like portion is spaced a substantial distance above the flat surface portion so as to permit the "nesting" of the tray down onto the hand and to thereby permit the tray to be stabilized on the hand.

Abstract: An food service tray including a molded plastic tray having a cup cavity, a plate cavity, an eating utensil cavity, and a napkin holder disposed thereon. The food service tray also has one thumb engaging socket for the purpose of facilitating holding the tray in a substantially horizontal disposition. In an alternate embodiment the napkin holder is a cliplike member disposed in a substantially parallel plane with respect to the facing surface of the food service tray.

Abstract: A drinking cup has a generally cylindrical rim portion above an at least semi-cylindrical base portion. A generally semi-cylindrical rear wall is disposed between a segment of the rim portion and the base portion, while an also semi-cylindrical front wall is disposed between the remaining segment of the rim portion and a level significantly above the base portion. A rear floor joins the lower end of the rear wall and the base portion, and an upper floor joins the front wall at the defined level. A vertical generally central divider defines with the rear wall and the rear floor a long rear compartment and also defines with the front wall and the upper floor a short front compartment. A handle is shaped to permit handling by either the right or left hand and may be formed during manufacture as a separate sub-assembly which includes an insert that is received to become a continuation of the front wall below the upper floor.

Abstract: A food tray is provided which contains food, beverage, napkin and utensil compartments for receiving these items. Food compartment inserts which interlock with the tray and are secured therein are provided. A reusable cup and cold/hot insert(s) which is inserted into and is secured in the cup are provided. A reusable bowl and cold/hot insert(s) which is inserted into and is secured in the bowl are provided. A special food compartment insert which enables the bowl to be held securely in the food compartment and protects the food compartment from soiling is provided. A convenient mechanism of storing and transporting the trays is also provided.

Abstract: A lunch box including a tray and a removable lid with a rear, separable hinge assembly and a forward manually releasable latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front panel on the tray with longitudinally spaced pressure pads and forwardly projecting detents which engage with corresponding detents on the depending front wall of the lid. Simultaneous rearward pressure on the two pressure pads rearwardly release the tray detents from the lid detents and free the lid for removal.

Abstract: A high security tamper evident package for the shipping and storing of a variety of highly proprietary electronic components. The package has a lid and a multi-compartmented base which are threaded together to actively engage an automatic locking system enabled by breakaway tabs on the wall of the base sliding over and engaging behind ramps protruding from the inner surface of the lid. Upon unscrewing the base from the lid, the tabs break off as pressure is applied by movement against the back of the ramps, leaving permanent evidence of the package having been opened. A textured grip on the bottom of the package provides ease of handling and fits snugly onto a raised ring on the top of another package to allow for easy stacking and efficient storage.

Abstract: Known trays for carrying beverage cups have three or four pressure panels spaced apart around the perimeter of each cell in a manner to hold the cup upright. In the tray of this invention each cell has only two opposing pressure panels, each directed downwardly and inwardly toward the central area of the cell, and each panel having two projections on its inwardly directed face appropriately spaced apart to provide four pressure contacts around the perimeter of the contained article. The pairs of pressure contacts are thus displaced outwardly in diametrically opposite directions by the contained article, so that round, oval or rectangular shapes can be contacted by each of the four pressure contacts.

Abstract: A paper plate (1) is provided which is pressure formed from a substantially rectangularly contoured paper board blank having corner sections. The corner sections include a plurality of fanned indentations (2) with the paper board blank being fabricated into the paper plate (1) through pressure formation. The fanned indentations (2) form corner creases after the paper plate (1) is pressure formed. Additionally, the pressure plate (1) defines rib members (5) which divide the paper plate (1) into individual compartments. A plurality of crescent contoured indentations (3) are provided on the paper board blank with the crescent contoured indentations (3) forming a stiffening fold member (6) which lies adjacent to and spans a top surface of a respective pressure formed rib member (5) to provide a double layer of paper board adjacent the respective rib member (5) for resisting deformation of the paper plate (1) when loads are applied.

Abstract: A compartmentalized waiter tray comprised of a light weight, hand carried device which functions in conjunction with a plurality of drink receptacles, or other glasses, removably retained within a plurality of compartments of an industry standard dishwashing rack to provide a quick and easy method for transporting the glasses without subsequent drink receptacle migration due to gravity and inertia and to position the drink receptacles for filling with ice or fluent drinking matter of both via automatic or semi-automatic methods; and the compartmentalized waiter tray is formed with a plurality of compartments extending above the upper surface of the tray in a pre-defined pattern to match the pre-defined pattern which the plurality of drink receptacles occupy within a plurality of compartments of the industry standard dishwashing rack; the plurality of compartments of the compartmentalized waiter tray further comprising an upper surface, internal partitions (which extend upward less than one quarter of the heig

Abstract: A party dish includes a generally circular food receiving section and a cup supporting member comprising an extension from the food receiving section. The dish can be held in one hand thereby freeing the other hand for eating off the dish or drinking from the cup. The dish is made from a generally square stock of material having a side substantially equal to the diameter of the food receiving section.

Abstract: A snack tray providing easy one-hand carry by the provision of a special thumb-hole, by which the outer end of the user's thumb provides a support-stability of a fulcrum located generally centrally not only of the upward forces from the user's fingers and thumb-base but also generally centrally of the tray. Other features include a central indention for providing an automatic forcing of the user to place his thumb's outer end in a location so as to not slip into a portion of the snack items being carried, and also achieve its central fulcrum effect; and the forward and rearward walls of the thumb hole are slanted, providing a comfortable and guiding surface for the user's insertion of his thumb's outer end portion. Other special provisions add to the advantages.