Tray with improved stability
A tray having improved stability in use comprising, a carrying portion having a substantially planar upper face for supporting items, and a lower face adapted to be supported by an operators hand, said lower face having at least one fixed and downwardly extending projection providing stable support for the tray when deposited on a surface by the operator, and wherein said. at least one downwardly extending projection permits removal and entry of the operator's hand for support of the lower face when the tray is deposited on the surface.
The present invention relates to trays using for carrying items, and more particularly to trays used in the food and hospitality industry with an improved stability when in use by an individual such as a server.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the food and beverage service industry it is important that customers are served with their orders as quickly as possible. This is a particular problem during peak times when restaurants or bars can be crowded with customers. The problems arise from both the number of orders being placed, and the difficulty in accessing the customer who placed the order due to crowding in aisles and walkways.
One known way in which the server may deliver more items than they are capable of carrying unaided in their hands is with the use of a tray. A typical tray comprises a supporting surface that is flat on both the upper surface where the items being carried are placed, and flat on the lower surface where the server supports the tray with a hand. The disadvantage with such trays is that it requires the server to balance the tray carrying items to be served on their hand. The difficulty with the balancing is that as items are removed from the upper surface of the tray the server must continually adjust the balancing of the tray on their hand. An error in this balancing will result in the tray being upset and the items on the tray being spilled, possibly resulting in further delay in delivering the ordered items to customers. Upsetting the balance of such a tray can also result in containers such as china and glassware, whether full or empty, from falling and breaking.
A further difficulty arises when putting down or picking up such a tray. Since the tray is usually carried by balancing on one hand the server typically is required to slide the tray on and off their hand in order to place it on a surface such as a table. In order to slide the tray it must be tilted which can result in additional spillage of the liquids such as drinks in glasses on the tray. This may be overcome by holding the tray with two hands rather than balancing the tray. However, such operation requires both hands of the server arid prevents the server from carrying two trays simultaneously.
As an additional problem at the busiest times in a restaurant or bar a server may have to negotiate through a crowded room with a loaded tray balanced on their hand. A small bump or knock of the server in such a crowded room can result in the server losing their balance control of the tray sitting on their hand with the result that the items resting on the tray can be upset and spill off the tray. Some trays have sides extending upwardly from the edge of the supporting surface of the tray in order to reduce the risk of items carried on the tray from falling off if the tray is only slightly upset or to prevent materials spilled on the tray from running off the edge. These upwardly extending edges are occasionally painted with a logo or brand that can be seen as the tray passes through the bar or restaurant.
Accordingly, there is a need in the food and hospitality industry for a tray with improved stability in use to prevent spillage and continual readjustment of balance, can be operated simply with one hand and is inexpensive to manufacture, and can work in limited space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a tray having improved stability in use thereby providing an economic benefit in fewer breakages or spillage of items to be served as well as improved service to customers. In addition, the tray having at least one downwardly extending projection can be used to promote goods or services when in use by attachment of advertisements to that downwardly extending projection.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a tray having improved stability in use. The improved stability tray includes a carrying portion having a substantially planar upper face for supporting items, and a lower face adapted to be supported by a server or operators hand. That lower face has at least one fixed and downwardly extending projection providing stable support for the tray when deposited on a surface by the operator. The at least one downwardly extending projection permits removal and entry of the operator's hand for support of the lower face when the tray is deposited on the surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention,
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tray 1 includes a lower face 10 having at least one fixed and downwardly extending projection providing stable support for the tray when deposited on a surface by the operator as shown in
In a further embodiment of the invention the upper face 3 is surrounded by a lip 4 extending upwardly for the purpose of reducing spills from the tray of any liquids that may have slopped onto the upper face 3.
As can been seen in the embodiment of the invention shown in
In an embodiment of the invention shown in
In an embodiment of the invention shown in
In
While only specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is apparent that variations can be made thereto. It is, therefore, the intention in the appended claims to cover all such variations as may fall within the true scope of the invention.
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A tray having improved stability in use comprising, a carrying portion having a substantially planar upper face for supporting items, and a lower face adapted to be supported by an operators hand, said lower face having at least one fixed and downwardly extending projection providing stable support for the tray when deposited on a surface by the operator, and wherein said at least one downwardly extending projection permits removal and entry of the operator's hand for support of the lower face when the tray is deposited on the surface.
2. The tray having improved stability of claim 1 wherein said at least one downwardly extending projection extends downwardly at the perimeter of the lower face.
3. The tray having improved stability of any of claim 1 or 2 wherein the at least one downwardly extending projection comprises a single projection having at least one opening to permit removal and entry of the operators hand for support of the lower face when the tray is deposited on the surface.
4. The tray of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lower face includes means for restricting lateral movement of the operator's hand.
5. The tray of claim 4 wherein the restricting means further includes a means for holding the operators hand in the restricting means.
6. The tray of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the downwardly extending projection supports an advertising sign
7. The tray of claim 6 wherein the advertising sign is interchangeable.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 17, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Inventor: Jason Bellissimo (Mississauga)
Application Number: 11/377,081
International Classification: B65D 1/34 (20060101); A47B 31/04 (20060101);