Abstract: A generally planar plate (1) for supporting food and drink is disclosed. The plate (1) including an oblong opening (2) relative to the major axis of the plate and through which the thumb may extend to grip the top of the plate (1) and by which the bottom of the plate (1) can be gripped by the splayed apart fingers of the hand of the user, to thereby provide a stable surface for supporting food and drink on top of the plate (1).

Abstract: A serving tray system includes a serving tray and a handle. A magnetic member and a release member are supported by the handle. The magnetic member is configured to selectively secure the handle to the serving tray. The release member is configured to selectively engage the serving tray to space the magnetic member from the serving tray for separating the handle from the serving tray.

Abstract: A serving tray system includes a serving tray and handle. The handle includes a holding end portion dimensioned to be carried by a user and a coupling end portion that selectively releasably secures to the tray. The handle supports a magnetic member that provides a magnetic force. The handle includes a movable member that is selectively movable relative to the holding end portion between first and second states. A movement of the movable member to the first state enables the magnetic force of the magnetic member to secure the coupling end portion of the handle to the tray. When the coupling end portion is secured to the tray, the coupling end portion is dimensioned to carry the tray. A movement of the movable member to the second state prevents the coupling end portion of the handle from securing to the tray.

Abstract: A spill-proof platter apparatus is arranged to minimize spillage of items supported thereon during transport and use. The platter apparatus employs connector fixtures secured to a holder plate at one or more locations in a predetermined pattern. Receivers taking the form of beverage container braces, plates, bowls, and the like are removably engaged to the connector fixtures to locate beverage and food related items at a fixed position of the platter apparatus.

Abstract: A food tray adapted to be removably located in a predetermined position in a compartment is provided having a tray body and a fixed movable stop member. The tray body includes a first end and a second end, a bottom and a sidewall structure defining a volume. The fixed movable stop member is located at one end of the tray body and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the tray is inserted in the compartment in the predetermined position, the fixed movable stop member is in the extended position and restrains further insertion of the tray into the compartment. A method of making a food tray in accordance with the invention is provided. Also provided is a method of storing food within a food tray to be contained in a pass-through compartment.

Abstract: A substrate carrier, including: a baffle having a continuous perimeter sidewall surrounding an enclosed region; and one or more standoffs attached to an inside surface of the perimeter sidewall, the one or more standoffs extending into the enclosed region and below a bottom edge of the perimeter sidewall, the one or more standoffs each having a lip located between an upper edge of the baffle and the lower edge of the baffle. Also, a method of annealing substrates using the substrate carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact mobile folding surface for use in a plurality of locations. Specifically, the present invention relates to a folding tray for use in a stadium, and more specifically for attaching the present invention on a back of a stadium seat. The present invention optionally has a plurality of handles, a depressed surface, one or more hooks, a locking mechanism, a collapsible storage compartment, and/or a plurality of weight management mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transport item for shipping goods. The transport item includes a body having first outer surface and a second outer surface, and a thickness therebetween. The body is formed from a thermoset foam material. The transport item also includes a first insertable component having a first portion located within the thickness of the body and a second portion that extends outside of the body beyond the first outer surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device (4) for stabilizing a drinks tray, and also to a drinks tray (2) incorporating the device (4). The device (4) finds use in the hospitality industry and enables a tray bearer to support or stabilize the tray (2) from underneath to reduce the risk of the tray (2) tipping and spilling its contents.

Abstract: An object-carrying tray is provided that can be used by both left and right-handed users. The tray has a flat upper surface and a lower surface having a molded depression of two hands. The hands are positioned so that the palms, and several inner fingers overlap and the thumbs point in opposing directions. This configuration permits both a left or right-handed user to place his or her hand within the depressions. The user places his or her hand within the appropriate depressions to reduce the likelihood that the tray will slide around on a user's hand while the device is in use.

Abstract: A tray, in particular for catering purposes onboard aircrafts, including a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by use of the tray. The tray body includes an interlocking device for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body of a similar tray, when at least two trays are positioned such that the receiving surfaces of the tray bodies are overlapping each other partially. The interlocking device of the trays interacting such that when one of the trays is drawn in a drawing direction, the other tray is moved along in the drawing direction.

Abstract: A method of handling products on shelves comprises providing a pan member including a base portion connected to a back portion with the back portion including a handle member and being angularly oriented relative to the base portion, with the base portion including a front edge and the back portion being connected to the base portion opposite the front edge. The method includes placing the front edge of the pan member adjacent a plurality of products stored on a shelf, sliding the pan member and at least a portion of the products relative to each other such that at least a portion of the products are contained in the pan member. The front edge may be positioned perpendicularly relative to the elongate length of the shelf and a biasing force may be provided to the products, such as by way of a retention arm member.

Abstract: A paint caddy includes a base having at least two walls and a pole coupled to and extending upwardly from the base. The base has at least one base support extending between the walls for capturing and supporting a paint tray therebetween. The pole has at least a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion, with the substantially horizontal portion serving as a handle for carrying a paint tray. A hook extends from the pole and is positioned below and spaced from the handle.

Abstract: An object-carrying tray is provided that can be used by both left and right-handed users. The tray has a flat upper surface and a lower surface having a molded depression of two hands. The hands are positioned so that the palms, and several inner fingers overlap and the thumbs point in opposing directions. This configuration permits both a left or right-handed user to place his or her hand within the depressions. The user places his or her hand within the appropriate depressions to reduce the likelihood that the tray will slide around on a user's hand while the device is in use.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device (4) for stabilising a drinks tray, and also to a drinks tray (2) incorporating the device (4). The device (4) finds use in the hospitality industry and enables a tray bearer to support or stabilise the tray (2) from underneath to reduce the risk of the tray (2) tipping and spilling its contents.

Abstract: A disposable holder for food that includes a separable component for grasping a food item previously contained within the holder during consumption by a user. The holder has separable upper and lower portions that include corresponding tabs for keeping the holder closed. One of the upper or lower portions includes a series of fold lines, such that the upper or lower portion may be folded around a food item after separated from the other portion.

Abstract: A serving tray assembly has a substantially circular plate including, a top and a bottom and two substantially elongated oval openings extending from the top to the bottom. The plate has an outer perimeter having an integrally coupled upwardly extending edge including a top having a lip. A tray is integrally coupled to the plate. A substantially elongated rectangular strap including a top surface and a bottom surface, a first end and a second end. The first end includes a substantially square and hollow clasp, wherein the top surface of the second end includes two substantially elongated strips of hook and loop fastener spaced apart.

Abstract: A plate has a periphery. The plate has an upper surface and a lower surface. A thickness is provided between the upper and lower surfaces. The plate has a plate center. The upper surface has at least one raised divider. The divider has a thumb hole. The plate also has a thumb flap.

Abstract: A tray/cushion assembly (10) holds a drink container (13) positioned in a cup holder recess (14). Handles (16) and (17) facilitate the carrying of the cushion (10) as a tray. The tray may be an inflatable tray rolled up and housed in transport container when deflated. The container may be two parts coupled together.

Abstract: A food and drinks serving tray is created to include two separate areas for drinks and glassware. The separate areas are formed by an outer rim and inner rim which partially or fully prevents spillage on or off of the tray. The food and drinks serving tray includes a billfold drawer and a coin reservoir to collect and conceal a waitress' cash payment for the orders she takes. A handle can be added to the underside of the tray for easy tray handling. The food and drinks serving tray can be manufactured of different materials and have different shades of color. In addition, the food and drinks serving tray has a flat base surface which can be manufactured to come in different shapes such as a circle or rectangle.

Abstract: A beverage holding device has a panel with a plurality of slots opening at a peripheral edge thereof and at least one support member extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the panel. Each of the slots has a generally C-shaped configuration and opens to the peripheral edge of the panel. The slots serve to receive drink containers therein. The support member can nest within a support member of an underlying beverage holding device.

Abstract: A spill-proof carrier for open-topped beverage containers includes one or more carrier members for carrying one or more open-topped beverage containers. The carrier also has one or more rigid support member having upper and lower end portions, which are connected transversely to a generally peripheral portion of the one or more carrier members. The upper end portion is disposed substantially over the axis of gravitational acceleration of the one or more carrier members. The carrier also has a handle for the one or more rigid support members attached to the upper end portion thereof by means of a joint arrangement incapable of supporting a moment of inertia thereat.

Abstract: An indoor flower watering rack includes a support rack having frame members and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support members extending longitudinally therebetween. First and second handle members are slidably coupled to the support rack and are selectively movable relative to respective frame members. First and second clamp members are attached to respective handle members for corresponding movement therewith. The clamp members are configured so as to sandwich a toilet rim therebetween upon inward clamping movement of the handle members. A plurality of legs depend from the support rack for alternatively supporting the rack upon a support surface. Therefore, the watering rack may be carried to a desired location and supported atop a toilet or upon a support surface.

Abstract: A cup holder includes a paddle-shaped structure having handles extending from opposed ends. The top surface of the paddle includes one or more ports for accommodating a magnet. Cups including a magnetic element are removably seated in the corresponding ports on the paddle surface, and two or more individuals can simultaneously drink from separate cups carried by the paddle by tilting the paddle by the opposed handles.

Abstract: A serving tray handling device having a glass or dish supporting surface and an undersurface provided with a finger-gripping projection or core which is surrounded by a recess or groove so that the user's fingers may be inserted into the recess or groove to grip the exterior wall surface of the projection or core. The core may receive a fitted cap of soft material. The core exterior wall surface is tapered inwardly for easy-grip while an opposing recess defining wall may also be inwardly sloped permitting accommodating of finger insertion into the recess or groove.

Abstract: A tray for storing, transporting and presenting various articles. The tray includes a storage platform and a handle member extending therethrough. The storage platform includes an array of variously shaped receptacles. The handle is movable between a first position wherein the platform is maintained in a first orientation and a second position wherein the platform is maintained in a second orientation.

Abstract: A serving tray having a substantially planar tray portion with a top surface, bottom surface and periphery; the tray portion being provided with a gripping surface and at least one base ring extending from the bottom surface. The gripping surface and base ring are positioned on the tray so that, when one of the gripping surface and the base ring is gripped by the fingertips of the user's hand, the other can be engaged by the server's thumb.

Abstract: A package assembly for containing a plurality of product portions has a protective shell and a product portion support element which is covered by the shell and which has a stem which extends through the shell for being gripped. The support element has a base having spaced-apart shaped plate portions which extend from a central base portion which form a planar base surface. The stem is connected to and extends perpendicularly from a centrally disposed portion of the base surface. The covering shell has a sidewall portion which extends from an edge which circumscribes a shell base opening configured in an outline shape of the shaped plates for being positioned adjacent the plates for encompassing food product portions positioned on the plates.

Abstract: A plasterer's hawk which preferably includes spring clips or other retaining members on the under side of the blade for holding putty and/or spackling knives or plaster spreaders. Two, three, four or more spring clips or other suitable retaining members can be circumferentially attached on the under side of the plasterer's hawk in order to hold the knives or spreaders under spring tension. The spring clips can be made of stainless steel, plastic or other non-corrodible material. The handle can be made as pistol grip from a soft rubber or injected molded plastic. A soft rubber foam gasket can be placed between the handle and under-side of the blade.

Abstract: A combination plate and cup holding apparatus, comprising a plate support for supporting a plate, an arcuate retaining member secured to the plate support to receive therein and support the edge of the plate, a cup support secured to the annular retaining member for supporting a cup adjacent the edge of the arcuate retaining member, and a handle secured to the plate support and having one or more finger-grippable members which enable the apparatus to easily be held with one hand by finger-gripping the grippable members while the thumb rests on the edge of the plate, thereby continually urging the plate into the arcuate retaining member.

Abstract: A hawk or mortarboard device to be carried with one arm while working, designed to be supported in two areas, i.e., forward by the hand, and rearward by the forearm and/or upper arm, thereby making the device easier to carry and handle with less carrying fatigue.

Abstract: A food and beverage snack tray comprising a substantially flat tray bottom having an inclined peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the periphery thereof including a beverage container receptacle and food receiving area separated by an arcuate separator element and a pair of digit slots formed in the inclined peripheral side wall to selectively receive the thumb and index finger of a user's hand to permit the user to grasp a beverage container disposed within the beverage container receptacle adjacent the digit slots and to receive food in the food receiving area isolating the food from the beverage while holding the food and beverage snack tray.

Abstract: A lettuce packing machine for the packing of heads of lettuce in corrugated, carboard cartons is disclosed. A lettuce head holding tray is loaded with lettuce. Thereafter, the tray is utilized to pack cartons. The lettuce head holding trays has discrete lettuce receiving cells upwardly exposed. Each tray contains four columns of cells, each column of cells being three wide for a capacity of 12 heads of lettuce. Each discrete lettuce receiving cell in the tray is defined by four semirigid, flexible sides, which sides extend downwardly and inwardly, are elastically biased and form an inverted pyramid-like profile truncated at an open bottom. The lettuce head holding tray is loaded at a picking station and conveyed to a packing station. When the lettuce head holding tray arrives at the packing station, a packing apparatus having discrete plungers--one for each cell--unloads the tray overlying a box to be packed.

Abstract: An aluminum foil oven pan and a wire holding frame therefor is disclosed. The holding frame comprises generally co-planar pan support portions extending beneath the bottom wall of the pan. The pan support portions have upwardly extending lateral portions for restraining the side wall of the pan. Some of the portions terminate in retaining members for being bent over to grip the pan rim. Other portions are provided with handle means whereby a retained pan may be easily lifted with the holding frame so that the user need not touch the pan during cooking procedures and whereby the risk of buckling the pan and spilling the contents therefrom is eliminated.

Abstract: A hand-held load-carrying apparatus for use by one or two persons includes a length adjustable carrier frame mounting opposed, handle-equipped end assemblies. The apparatus is particularly advantageous for carrying relatively heavy objects up and down stairs or ramps, around corners in stairwells, and along spiral staircases. The ready adjustment of the pivotally mounted handles to a selected position assures that a user maintains the most comfortable upright posture that is physiologically preferred to support the spine in a position intended to minimize backstrain and other injury.

Abstract: A service tray for holding food and drink which can be held in one hand. The tray has a bottom which defines an arcuate gripping edge along a portion of the periphery of the tray bottom. The edge is dimensioned to permit a user of the tray to grasp a beverage container between the thumb and index finger of one hand of the user. The user's remaining fingers support the underside surface of the tray bottom which thereby enables the user to firmly grip the tray. The tray is also provided with an upwardly extending C-shaped sidewall which bounds and adjoins the remaining portion of the tray bottom's periphery. The sidewall serves to prevent articles having been placed on the tray from sliding off of the tray. Construction of the tray is such that it can be manufactured in one step without subsequent machining or cutting steps.

Abstract: The food carrier assembly comprises a container for holding a food product with a structure for grasping the container to support the container while transporting the assembly. A handle mechanism is disposed on the grasping section for carrying the container as a compact carrier assembly for the good product. A specific feature of the invention has the container shaped as a pan to receive a plurality of cupcakes. A lid portion on the container has a structural configuration for stacking a second container on top of the lid portion to provide an upper and lower container. The handle structure includes a hand gripping portion with coupling members located at each end thereof for attaching to the grasping configuration on a plurality of stacked containers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rigid place mat, which is used as an individual tray or support for dishes or drinking vessels on a table or in the lap. The place mat comprises a flexible cloth, in which there is formed by means of sewing, gluing or some corresponding method a pouchlike case. Into this case there is arranged a rigid plate as a stiffener of the place mat.

Abstract: A food storage and preparation device including a container assembly and a grid assembly. The grid assembly includes a tray and handle arrangement which is pivotable between a first position wherein the tray is adjacent the base of the container and a second position wherein the tray is positioned above the base forming a dual level arrangement with space for foodstuffs below and above the tray. The device further includes a detent arrangement for maintaining the handles in the first and second positions.

Abstract: A demountable tray assembly comprises a cruciform base (3) supporting a pair of upright spaced-apart pillars (4) connected at the top by a carrying handle. A stack of trays (2) are located on the base by the pillars which pass through the trays mid-way between their ends, endwise or sideways movement of the trays thus being prevented. Spacers may be provided to maintain the trays in vertically spaced-apart relationship.

Abstract: A protective pad includes a sheet of flexible material. A plurality of fasteners are spaced around the edge of the sheet in the corners, and adjacent fasteners can be attached to each other. When the fasteners are attached, the edge of the sheet is forced upward slightly to form a lip around the top face of the pad to retain soil, debris and water. When the fasteners are not attached, the flexible material lies flat. Handles across opposite corners are used to fold the pad and to carry it.

Abstract: A collapsible pensile food carrier is provided that comprises slidably engaged beverage support members adapted to receive and transport a plurality of drinking cups and having a foldable auxiliary food transport pouch suspended therefrom. A kit comprising the subject collapsible pensile food carrier in combination with a storage pouch is also provided.

Abstract: A generally trough-like elongated element is formed of quartz glass, open at the top, in which the side walls (2) which, preferably, have inclined portions (4) merging with the bottom wall (1) of the trough, are formed with through-slits (3), and the bottom wall is formed with slots (5) cut therein, leaving, however, the end portions solid and uncut; the end portions are formed with positioning or alignment notches (6) extending in a direction transverse to the bottom wall which, preferably, is formed with a recess or notch for engagement with a transport apparatus. The side walls preferably have holes extending, in longitudinal alignment, through the solid end portions to permit passage of the tines of a handling fork (8) therethrough. The slits (3) and the slots (5) provide for three-point suspension of disk or plate-like semiconductor substrates for handling and introduction, for example, into a treatment or diffusion furnace or tube.

Abstract: A tray-like structure is proposed for use in such as a restaurant for presenting a credit card slip to a customer for signature, the structure comprising a flat broad thin body having shallow rectangular recesses in the flat upper surface thereof to receive the credit card and the credit card slip in adjacent disposition with their left lateral edges in rectilinear alignment so that the specimen signature on the card is adjacent the signature on the signed credit card slip. Each recess or a part thereof has a depth which reduces to zero at one edge, the part may be a ramp at a corner of the recess. A pen recess, also having reducing depth towards one end, finger gripping recesses in opposed lateral edges of the tray, and a further recess opening into an edge of the body for receiving documents therein, may also be provided.

Abstract: The bread carrier comprises a plastic rectangular tray and a pair of generally U-shaped metal carrying bails pivotally connected across opposite ends of the tray. To accommodate a load, the pivotal connection between the bail and the tray is spaced inwardly from the ends of the tray. The bails have L-shaped leg members, the heel of which protrudes above the side and end walls of the tray when the bails are folded down. Slot means are provided in the floor of the tray to receive the protruding heels of a second carrier stacked therebelow in a folded position.