Molded storage tray for concessions
A storage tray supportable in a beverage holder of an armrest, the storage container including a body member having a base and a plurality of sloping side walls extending outwardly from the base and terminating at an upper edge. The base having one or more stiffening rib members extending upwardly from the base and converging towards a dividing rib member, the dividing rib member extending between at least two sloping side walls and defining a first concession compartment and a second compartment in the base. The first concession compartment formed with a beverage recess member extending downwardly from the base, the beverage recess formed with an outer wall and a bottom wall, the outer wall and the bottom wall dimensioned for frictionally engaging with the beverage holder of the armrest for supporting the body member in a substantially horizontal plane. The storage tray further including a tray member optionally positioned upon a peripheral rim for enclosing the first and second concession compartments, wherein the peripheral rim supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane.
The present invention relates to a molded storage tray, and in particular to a molded storage tray supportable in a beverage holder in an armrest for storing one or more concessions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStorage containers and trays are commonly provided at entertainment and sporting events for storing and transporting concessions. These concessions may include popcorn, candy, hot dogs and carbonated beverages which patrons purchase from concession stands and consume in the comfort of their respective chairs at the entertainment or sporting event. In many instances, providing patrons with a convenient means for storing and enjoying concessions at their respective chairs adds to their overall enjoyment of the entertainment or sporting events.
Given that concession sales represent a sizeable source of revenue for entertainment and sport event operators, many operators have sought convenient means for enabling patrons to transport and enjoy purchased concessions at their chairs during such events. This need is addressed to some extent by commercially available pre-formed, rigid trays that are adapted for repetitive uses by patrons over an extended period of time. Such rigid trays are commonly used in cafeteria settings and are manufactured from durable materials such as, for example, plastic and metal. While trays manufactured from rigid materials are able to withstand multiple uses, they can be cumbersome for patrons to comfortably carry and position on their lap while enjoying the entertainment or sporting event. Moreover, the bulky nature of these rigid trays make them unsuitable for use in the confined spaces behind most concession stands.
Alternative rigid trays have been developed which have integrally formed beverage holders that are adapted to be received within cup holders formed in the chair arms at most entertainment and sporting events. By positioning a beverage or similarly weighted concession within the beverage holder, the rigid tray is substantially stabilized in relation to the cup holder of the chair. While rigid trays having beverage holders that are inserted into the cup holders of chairs provide a convenient means for patrons to enjoy their concessions and beverages, such rigid trays are prone to instability when the concessions are removed from the beverage holders. This instability often results in the concessions toppling over on the patrons and the aisles of the entertainment and sporting events. Moreover, these rigid trays often extend along the chair arm, thereby blocking the patrons from resting their elbows and arms on the chair arm. The interference of these rigid trays over prolonged entertainment and sporting events may cause patrons to experience poor posture and discomfort in their shoulders and back. Of course, upon consuming the concessions, the patron could opt to remove the rigid tray from the chair arm and discard it on the floor beneath their respective chairs. However, in most entertainment and sporting events, there is often minimal space beneath the chairs for disposing of the bulky rigid trays. Consequently, as patrons are entering and exiting from the entertainment and sporting event, the discarded rigid trays along the aisles pose a serious trip hazard. Moreover, in view of the unsanitary conditions of the floors of most entertainment and sporting events, the discarded rigid trays must be collected by event personnel and thoroughly cleaned before the trays may be provided to subsequent patrons. The collection and cleaning of the rigid trays in this manner results in a considerable additional expense for the operators of entertainment and sporting events.
Accordingly, there is a need for a concession tray which allows for more convenient storage and support of one or more concessions in relation to the cup holder in a chair arm. There is a further need for a concession tray which does not interfere with the patron's enjoyment of the concessions and/or the entertainment or sporting event. There is also a need for a low cost concession tray which does not require cleaning or other cumbersome facilities for storing and handling the trays. Moreover, there is a need for a single use concession tray which may be recycled following use by patrons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a storage tray that is supportable in a beverage holder of an armrest in a seating structure. In particular, the present invention is directed to a storage tray consisting of a body member having a base and a plurality of sloping side walls extending outwardly from the base and terminating at an upper edge. The base is provided with one or more stiffening ribs extending upwardly from the base and converging towards a dividing rib member. The dividing rib member extends between at least two sloping side walls and defining a first concession compartment and a second compartment in the base. The body member is manufactured of molded pulp material.
The first concession compartment formed in the body member has a beverage recess member extending downwardly from the base. The beverage recess has an outer wall and a bottom wall. The outer wall and the bottom wall being dimensioned for frictionally engaging with the beverage holder of the armrest for supporting the body member in a substantially horizontal plane.
The second concession compartment may be formed with a stand member extending downwardly from the base and having a lower stand wall for supporting the body member on a flat surface. The bottom wall and the lower stand wall are substantially aligned in a common horizontal plane and cooperate to support the body member in a common horizontal plane and cooperate to support the body member in a substantially horizontal plane on a flat surface.
The stiffening rib members provided in the base extending between the sloping side walls and the dividing rib member. The stiffening rib members having a first end integrally formed with the sloping side walls and a second end integrally formed with the dividing rib member. Each of the one or more stiffening rib members gradually tapering from the first end to the second end. The height of each of the stiffening rib members at the second end is greater than the height of each of the stiffening rib members at the first end. By this design, the one or more stiffening rib members are adaptable for resisting deformation of the body member when one or more concessions are stored within the first and second concession compartments and the body member is supportingly engaged in the beverage holder of the armrest. The one or more stiffening rib members defining one or more concessions recesses in the base of the second concession compartment. Each of the one or more concession recesses adapted to accommodate one or more concessions.
Each of the side wall portions are formed with a peripheral rim proximate to the upper edge of the body member. A tray member may be optionally positioned upon the peripheral rim for enclosing the first and second concession compartments, wherein the peripheral rim supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane. Alternatively, the tray member optionally positioned upon the peripheral rim and the dividing rib member for enclosing the first and second concession compartments. By this design, the peripheral rim and the dividing rib member supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane. The tray member is formed with at least one beverage cup aperture that vertically aligns with the beverage recess member in the first concession compartment when the tray member supportingly engaged in the peripheral rim. The tray member providing a substantially planar surface for supporting one or more concessions.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and in which:
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In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage tray 10 is molded from a pulp or similar fibrous material having sufficient strength charactertistics to support the weight of one or more concessions 18 positioned within the body member 20. As well, the pulp or similar fibrous material should possess sufficient strength characteristics to minimize the deformation of the storage tray 10 when it is positioned and frictionally engaged within the beverage holder 16 of the seating structure 12. A pulp or similar fibrous material is particularly well suited for storage trays 10 utilized in entertainment and sport venues because it is inexpensive and recylable. Moreover, such materials have favourable thermal insultative properties for facilitating the convenient storing of cold or hot concessions within the storage tray 10.
The pulp or fibrous material may be formed into shape of the storage tray 10 of the present invention using any known technique in the art, such as, for example, injection molding. It should be understood that the storage tray 10 of the present invention may also be manufactured from any suitable cardboard sheet material capable of being thermally-formed into the shape of the storage tray 10.
In a first alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in
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The tray member 66 is preferably made of a cardboard material, such as, for example, solid or corrugated cardboard. However, it should be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that any other suitable material having sufficient strength and stiffness to support the weight of one or more concessions 18 may be utilized with the storage tray 10 made in accordance with the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.
In use, the patron may place one or more concessions 18 within the first and second concession compartments 38 and 40 in the body member 20 of the storage tray 10. A beverage container 58 may be inserted downwardly into the recessed beverage member 44 formed in the first concession compartment 40. If the patron has positioned a tray member 66 within the body member 20 of the storage tray 10, the beverage container 58 may be inserted downwardly through the at least one aperture in the tray member 66 and then into the recessed beverage member. Additional one or more concessions 18, such as popcorn, may then be placed upon the top surface 68 of the tray member 66 and supported by the storage tray 10. Referring to
While what has been shown and described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations of such embodiment can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A storage tray supportable in a beverage holder of an armrest, the storage container comprising:
- a body member having a base and a plurality of sloping side walls extending outwardly from the base and terminating at an upper edge, the base having one or more stiffening rib members extending upwardly from the base and converging towards a dividing rib member, the dividing rib member extending between at least two sloping side walls and defining a first concession compartment and a second compartment in the base.
2. A storage tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first concession compartment formed with a beverage recess member extending downwardly from the base, the beverage recess member an outer wall and a bottom wall, the outer wall and the bottom wall dimensioned for frictionally engaging with the beverage holder of the armrest for supporting the body member in a substantially horizontal plane.
3. A storage tray as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body member formed with one or stand members extending downwardly from the base and having a bottom stand wall, wherein the bottom stand wall adaptable for supporting the body member on a flat surface.
4. A storage tray as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bottom wall of the beverage recess member and the bottom stand wall of the one or more stand members are substantially aligned in a common horizontal plane and cooperate to support the body member in a substantially horizontal plane on a flat surface.
5. A storage tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more stiffening rib members extending between the sloping side walls and the dividing rib member, each of the one or more stiffening rib members having a first end integrally formed with the sloping side walls and a second end integrally formed with the dividing rib member.
6. A storage tray as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the one or more stiffening rib members gradually tapering from the first end to the second end, and wherein the height of each of the stiffening rib members at the second end is greater than the height of each of the stiffening rib members at the first end.
7. A storage tray as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one or more stiffening rib members adapted for resisting deformation of the body member when one or more concessions are stored within the first and second concession compartments and the body member is supportingly engaged in the beverage holder of the armrest.
8. A storage tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more stiffening rib members defining one or more concessions recesses in the base of the second concession compartment, wherein each of the one or more concession recesses adapted to accommodate one or more concessions.
9. A storage tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the sloping side wall portions are formed with a peripheral rim proximate to the upper edge of the body member.
10. A storage tray as claimed in claim 9, wherein a tray member optionally positioned upon the peripheral rim for enclosing the first and second concession compartments, wherein the peripheral rim supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane.
11. A storage tray as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tray member positioned upon the peripheral rim and the dividing rib member for enclosing the first and second concession compartments, wherein the peripheral rim and the dividing rib member supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane.
12. A storage tray as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tray member is formed with at least one beverage aperture, the at least one beverage aperture vertically aligning with the beverage recess member in the first concession compartment when the tray member is supportingly engaged in the peripheral rim.
13. A storage tray as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tray member providing a substantially planar surface for supporting one or more concessions
14. A storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body member is manufactured of molded pulp.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 16, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 22, 2009
Inventors: Mark Andrew Rajack (Mississauga), Shawn Ashton Le Maitre (Tanager)
Application Number: 11/826,437
International Classification: A47C 7/62 (20060101);