ASSISTIVE FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAY
A tray for carrying food, beverages or other items has a surface partitioned to carry such food and beverage products. At least one corner of the tray extends laterally outward from the surface of the tray. This extension serves to engage the arm of the user, thereby eliminating rotational moments in two horizontal axes of the tray and preventing rotation of the tray about the two horizontal axes.
This application claims priority from provisional application No. 60/666,008 filed on Apr. 20, 2005 to the extent allowed by law.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a tray for carrying food, beverages, and the like that allows a user having partial or normal arm functions to support the tray in a horizontal position with one arm.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTrays for carrying food and beverages from a food dispensing area, such as a cafeteria line, to an eating table are commonly used in food service establishments such as cafeterias. Conventional trays have consisted of a shallow flat support surface with slightly raised edges or rims used for carrying food and beverage items. Additionally, many of these conventional tray designs have included various sized partitions and beverage container holders to keep food and beverage items stationary on the tray during transport.
Individuals with partial arm functions, such as partial or full amputees, those with brachial plexus injury, paraplegics, and anyone with an illness, injury or condition who is required to support and balance his/her food and beverage tray with one hand or with only minimal support from the second hand, experience serious difficulty in balancing a tray full of food and beverages while walking to an eating table. Presently available food and beverage trays do not provide balance or stability when used by individuals with partial arm functions.
Various designs for trays or devices for carrying food and beverages are disclosed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,687 entitled “Beverage and Food Carrier” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,288 entitled “Expandable Serving Tray” disclose food trays and carrying devices for persons with normal arm functions. Neither of the disclosures in these patents teach or suggest a tray which is designed for use by people with partial arm functions. Further, none of the food trays disclosed in the prior art are designed to be supported by a user in a manner that reduces the twisting moment acting on the tray, thus making the tray easier to carry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of one embodiment of the invention is to provide a tray device which can be used by people with partial arm functions to help increase their independence. The improved tray includes an ergonomic shape with contoured edges for easier carrying. An optional feature of the present invention is the provision of enlarged rims for better gripping of the tray.
An important feature of an embodiment of the tray is an aperture structure that allows for arm placement by the user. The aperture is strategically positioned on the tray to allow the user to slide an arm through the aperture and rest the underside of the tray on the corresponding forearm. This feature allows easier transport of food or beverage items through improved support of the transported items as most of the force from the weight of the items is shifted back to the forearm and bicep muscles of the user. The tray of this embodiment is also designed to allow the user to locate the side of the aperture above the bent elbow if necessary for additional support while in use. The other “free” hand can either hold onto the tray for further stability or be used for other activities. The tray can also be reversible, having two opposite partitioned surfaces for use with either the left or right hand extended through the aperture structure.
The contoured edges of another embodiment of the tray provide for additional support by allowing the user to rest the tray against the hips or abdomen. This reduces the weight necessary to be supported by the user's arm muscles alone and provides for easier transport of items on the tray. The rims or edges of the tray are wider and thicker than conventional trays in an embodiment which allows the user's fingers to clasp on and hold the tray at the edges comfortably. Less effort is required in gripping a larger surface area. In another embodiment, the tray has one or more grip handles extending downward from the rim of the tray allowing a user with a deformed or clawed hand to grasp the tray more easily.
A cup or beverage holder is also incorporated into the design by a shape specific partition. The cup holder therefore allows for easier carrying of an open drink without the spillage concerns of prior tray designs. The tray is designed to be light, durable, and easy to use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrated embodiment of
The user is not required to grasp the tray with one or both hands in order to transport the weight as with conventional tray designs. This makes the tray ideal for persons with partial arm functions or for amputees who can only make use of one arm. The tray 10 of the illustrated embodiment can also be reversible, having two opposite partitioned surfaces 12 (
The cup holder partition 14 (
The second alternative embodiment in
The tray 30 of
In an embodiment of the invention shown in
The foregoing description of an illustrated embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below.
Claims
1. A tray for carrying food and beverage products and the like, comprising:
- a first surface on the tray, the surface adapted to carry food, beverage and other items;
- a second surface on the tray, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface adapted to carry food, beverage and other items when the tray is inverted;
- a portion of the tray having an aperture extending through the tray, the aperture adapted to receive either forearm of a user, the tray adapted to rest upon and be partially supported by the forearm of the user.
2. The tray of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second surfaces comprises at least one partition, the partition defined by sidewall portions extending outwardly from at least one of said first and second surfaces, the partition defining a cavity adapted to hold said food, beverage and other items in place on said at least one surface.
3. The tray of claim 2 wherein the at least one of said first and second surfaces includes a plurality of cavities.
4. The tray of claim 1 wherein each of the surfaces includes an edge extending around the tray to form a rim, the rim extending in a direction away from each of the surfaces to provide a raised rim relative to each surface.
5. The tray of claim 1, wherein the aperture extends through an edge portion of the tray.
6. The tray of claim 5, wherein the portion of the tray comprising the aperture extends in a lateral direction outward from the edge portion of the tray.
7. A tray for carrying food and beverage products and the like, comprising:
- a surface on the tray, the first surface having a raised edge extending around the tray forming a rim around the surface, the tray having at least two corners;
- each of the two corners extending laterally outward from the surface of the tray, each extended corner forming tray support surfaces.
8. The tray of claim 7, wherein the tray is adapted to be held by the laterally extending forearm of a user, each of the tray support surfaces adapted to contact a portion of the forearm of the user to provide partial support for the tray.
9. The tray of claim 7, wherein a portion of the rim extending between the at least two corners is defined by a curved contour.
10. The tray of claim 9, wherein the curved contour portion of the rim is adapted to abut the abdomen of a user as the user holds the tray.
11. The tray of claim 7, further comprising at least one grip handle extending downward from the rim of the tray, the grip handle adapted to be gripped by a deformed hand of a user.
12. The tray of claim 11 wherein the at least one grip handle is integrally formed with the tray.
13. The tray of claim 11, wherein the at least one grip handle extends along at least one lateral edge of the tray.
14. A tray for holding food and beverage products and the like, comprising:
- a surface on the tray, the surface adapted to carry food, beverage and other items;
- at least one corner of the tray having an exterior portion extending laterally outward from the at least one corner;
- the extending exterior portion adapted to engage the arm of a user, the engagement of the extending exterior portion with the arm eliminating rotational moments in two horizontal axes of the tray and preventing rotation of the tray about the two horizontal axes.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 20, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 2, 2006
Inventors: Martina Fialova (Kansas City, KS), Betsy Thevalakara (Oak Park, IN), David Weed (Chicago, IL), Lukasz Zientara (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/379,497
International Classification: B65D 1/34 (20060101);