Food tray and travel food tray with liner method and apparatus

Abstract

A food tray system comprising a food tray, a suitably sized tray liner with an elastic member placed over and around the top portions of the food tray. The elastic member tightens the tray liner to the shape and size of the food tray to prevent the tray liner from being pulled or moved by a child. After use, the tray liner is removed from the food tray by loosening the elastic member from the edges of the tray. The removed tray liner is gathered inwardly by the elastic means to form an integral, closed waste bag for the clean removal of debris from the food tray. The food tray system may also be a food travel tray system, which also includes at least one horizontal support bar that is placed under the legs of a child in an infant automobile seat or standard automobile seat when the tray is in use. The food tray system further includes a cover, which may be used as an activity table. The activity table may have a light system integrated therein to allow for use of the activity table in the dark.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,888, filed Nov. 22, 2005.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to backseat travel trays. More specifically a food tray with activity board cover and disposable plastic liners that can be used as a tray liner and a waste bag.

Several forms of backseat travel food trays exist including sectional trays. On many occasions, travel trays are used to provide food and drink to children in the backseat of a vehicle. Many times food or drink is spilled on the tray requiring it to be washed. It would be advantageous to have a tray with a plastic liner that could cover contours of the tray and reduce or eliminate the need to wash the travel tray after each use.

It would also be advantageous if the travel tray had a cover that could be used as an activity table on one or both sides of the tray cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a food and beverage tray and liner system with disposable liners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sectional travel tray and liner system with a disposable liners.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sectional travel tray and liner system with disposable liners and a travel tray cover having a means of being used as an activity table on at least one side of the travel tray cover.

According to the present invention, a food tray system comprises a food tray and a tray liner, which is suitably sized to follow contours of the food tray. The tray liner is placed over the top portions of the food tray to provide a protective shield between the food tray and any food or beverage. The tray liner also includes an elastic member to tighten or secure the tray liner to the shape and size of the food tray. The elastic member, therefore, prevents the tray liner from being pulled or moved by a child to ensure that the food tray remains clean of any residue or food spills. The elastic member is also gatherable, from the food tray, to form an integral, closed waste bag for the clean removal of debris from the food tray. The food tray may be used as a backseat travel tray and may also be provided as a means for securing a child in the backseat for stability. The food tray system according to the present invention can be a section or non-sectional tray with a light system integrated therein for evening use.

The food tray system according to the present invention may also include at least one folding leg, which can be placed under the legs of a child in an infant automobile seat or standard automobile seat. It is also contemplated that at least one folding leg is configured to assume several adjustable positions, including angle and height adjustable positions, to assume stability and several support position of a child.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a food tray system comprises a food tray and a tray liner, which is suitably sized to follow contours of the food tray. The tray liner is placed over the top portions of the food tray to provide a protective shield between the food tray and any food or beverage. The tray liner also includes an elastic member to tighten or secure the tray liner to the shape and size of the food tray. The elastic member, therefore, prevents the tray liner from being pulled or moved by a child to ensure that the food tray remains clean of any residue or food spills. The elastic member is also gatherable, from the food tray, to form an integral, closed waste bag for the clean removal of debris from the food tray. When the food tray system is not in use, a protective cover may be positioned over the top of the food tray so that the top side of the cover can be used as an activity table. The cover may have a light system integrated therein to allow for use of the cover as the activity table in the dark. A securing means integrated with the cover ensures that the cover is not pulled up or moved by a child away from the food tray. The food tray may also be used as a backseat travel tray and may also be provided as a means for securing a child in the backseat for stability. The food tray system according to the present invention can be a section or non-sectional tray.

These and other benefits of the present invention will become more readily apparent after a review of the detailed description and preferred embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a food tray system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of a food tray system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a tray liner, having a secondary function as a waste bag, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a travel food tray system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows another schematic perspective view of a travel food tray system with at least one horizontal support bar according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail below, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the food tray system 10 according to the present invention comprises a food tray 12 and a protective tray liner 16 that is placed over the top portions of the food tray 12. The food tray 12 may have one or more individual compartments 14 for containing different food or beverage. As will be understood, the food tray 12 can be of any desired shape, size and material. Preferably, the tray 12 is constructed of a non-porous, stain resistant and rigid material such as plastic or the like. The food tray can also be made of flexible material. The food tray 12 can further be used as a sectional or a non-sectional tray. As such, various embodiments of the food tray 12 may include various configurations depending on the food items to be supported, as well as the specific shape and size to accommodate children's sizes. As will also be understood, the protective tray liner 16 is not limited to any particular food tray 12 configurations and may be used with a wide variety of such trays. Of course, the protective tray liner 16 may be form fitted to the food tray 12 or take shape according to the individual compartments 14.

Again referring to FIG. 1, the protective tray liner 16 prevents the food tray 12 from needing to be washed as the protective tray liner 16 provides a protective layer between food and beverage and the top portions of the food tray 12. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the protective tray liner 16 insures that the top portions of the food tray 12 remains clean of any residue or food spills.

The protective tray liner 16 may be composed of any suitable sheet material, such as plastic or the like or other recyclable materials provided with a liquid impermeable cover layer and have straps, mechanical fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, drawstrings, or elastic members, etc., around the outer edge or edges. This way, a child cannot pull up or dislodge the outer edge or edges of the protective tray liner 16 so that the top portions of the food tray 12 will be protected from food debris and any other residue.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the food tray system 18 according to the present invention comprising the food tray 20 and the tray liner 22. The tray liner 22 is suitably sized to follow the contours of the food tray 20 and is placed over the top portions and covers the food tray 20. The tray liner 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is also provided with elastic members 23 or the like materials around the outer edge or edges, such that a child cannot pull up or dislodge the outer edge or edges of the protective tray liner 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates the tray liner 24 offering an additional functional element as a waste bag 24 to discard any waste 26 from food or beverage by loosening the elastic means 27 around the outer edges and turning the tray liner 24 inward to collect food debris and any other residue caught on the tray liner 24 after use. In this embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, therefore, the food tray 12 remains clean of any residue or food spills as the tray liner 16, 24 turns into a waste bag 24, with self closure, for direct disposal of trapped food and debris as well as any other residual foods and items which are to be disposed of.

FIG. 4 illustrates a travel food tray system 28 according to the invention comprising a food tray 30 having a folding leg 32 that can be locked into a position with a securing means 34 placed somewhere in the travel food tray system 28. The tray liner 36 is provided as part of the travel food tray system 28 and provides a means of keeping the tray clean from food and beverage as well as reducing the need to wash the food tray 30. The tray liner 36 provides a secondary function as it can be used as a waste bag 36 to dispose of the food and beverage waste.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the travel food tray system 38 having an adjustable leg 40. The adjustable leg 40 is also angle and height adjustable to assume several support position of a child. The adjustable leg 40 has at least one horizontal support bar 42 that is placed under the legs of a child in an infant automobile seat or standard automobile seat when the tray system 38 is stable in use. The food tray 44 part of the system may have a food tray cover 46 so that when the cover 46 is placed on top of the travel food tray 44, the travel food tray system 38 may be used as an activity table. The travel tray cover 46 may have at least one side that can be used for activity purposes including but not limited to a magnetic board side, a chalk board side or other activity table top type systems. The food tray 44 or the travel tray cover 46 may have a light system 48 integrated therein for evening use.

The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A food tray system comprising:

a food tray;

a tray liner suitably sized to follow contours of the food tray placed over the top portions of the food tray to provide a protective shield between the food tray and any food or beverage; and,

an elastic member to tighten the tray liner to the shape and size of the food tray to prevent the tray liner from being pulled or moved by a child, wherein the elastic means are also gatherable, from the food tray, to form an integral, closed waste bag for the clean removal of debris from the food tray.

2. The food tray system of claim 1 is a sectional or a non-sectional tray.

3. The food tray system of claim 1 having at least one folding leg.

4. The food tray system of claim 3, wherein the at least one folding leg is configured to assume several adjustable positions to assume several support position of a child.

5. The food tray system of claim 1 having a light system integrated therein.

6. A food tray system comprising:

a food tray;

a tray liner suitably sized to follow contours of the food tray, wherein the tray liner is placed over the top portions of the food tray to provide a protective shield between the food tray and any food or beverage;

an elastic member to tighten the tray liner to the shape and size of the food tray to prevent the tray liner from being pulled or moved by a child, wherein the elastic means are also gatherable, from the food tray, to form an integral, closed waste bag for the clean removal of debris from the food tray;

a cover positioned over the top of the food tray, wherein at least one side of the cover can be used as an activity table; and,

a securing means to securely provide the cover on top of the food tray.

7. The food tray system of claim 6 is a sectional or a non-sectional tray.

8. The food tray system of claim 6 having at least one folding leg.

9. The food tray system of claim 8, wherein the at least one folding leg is configured to assume several adjustable positions to assume several support position of a child.

10. The food tray system of claim 6 one having a light system integrated therein.