COMMUNION TRAY COVER
The Communion tray cover is a cover for removably covering one or more Communion trays during religious services. The tray cover includes a top panel and a side panel or wall depending therefrom. The height of the side panel may be configured to extend from the top of a single tray or a plurality of stacked trays to the underlying surface. The top includes a crucifix clearance passage therethrough, and lifting tabs extending from opposite edges of the top panel. Alternatively, radially opposed lifting straps may be provided upon the top panel. The top and side panels are formed of any suitable fabric material, and may have a plain finish or a decorative finish, e.g., brocade, if desired. A satin inner liner of silk or other finely woven fabric is provided within the top and side panels. The side panels may be partially or completely pleated.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/282,838, filed Apr. 7, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to articles used in religious services, and particularly to a communion tray cover used to cover bread and wine during Mass or other church services until needed for communion.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of different religious denominations hold Communion or Eucharist services. Such services generally provide consecrated bread or wafers and wine or juice elements as representations of the transubstantiated body and blood of Jesus Christ. Such services are generally a very important rite in most religions that celebrate Communion or the Eucharist, and are considered sacraments or ordinances in various churches. Accordingly, the consecrated elements comprising the bread or wafers and wine or juice are placed in appropriate containers or trays, and are generally covered until the elements are needed during the service. At least two trays are provided, one (or more) holding the bread or wafers and the other(s) holding the wine or juice. Trays containing like elements are generally configured for stacking atop one another where a large service is to be held.
The trays are usually provided with a rigid lid or top of like material to that of the tray, e.g., a polished metal, etc., placed atop the topmost tray in a stack of trays. These lids or tops are often referred to as “covers,” although they more accurately have the form and function of a container lid or top. In addition, it is customary in many services to cover the plurality of trays with a tablecloth or other large cloth sheet before the elements are dispensed during the Communion or Eucharist service. Oftentimes, this cover sheet is essentially identical to the tablecloth used to cover the Communion table upon which the Communion trays are placed. This results in a shroud-like appearance, with the plain white appearance of the cover sheet or cloth concealing the elegance of the Communion or Eucharist element trays themselves. Moreover, such cloths use more fabric than is needed, and do not conform to the dimensions or shape of the implements being covered.
Thus, a Communion tray cover solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe Communion tray cover may comprise any of several embodiments. Each of the embodiments includes a circular top panel having a continuous side panel or wall depending therefrom. The side panel or wall may be of any practicable height, but is generally configured to extend from the top panel to the underlying surface when placed atop one or more Communion trays. The side panel may have a cylindrical or frustoconical configuration, as desired. The top panel includes a crucifix clearance passage therethrough, and the side panel or wall may comprise or include a pleated skirt, if so desired. The device is made of fine fabrics, with the outer surface being either plain or patterned, as desired. A satin inner liner of silk or other very finely woven fabric is installed over the inner surfaces of the top and side panel or wall.
Two diametrically opposed lifting tabs are provided, the tabs extending from the juncture of the top panel and side panel or wall. Alternative attachment means (e.g., snaps, etc.) are provided to secure a removably attachable end of each tab to the body of the cover. An attachment is provided near the base of each tab, allowing the tab to be secured back to itself to form a closed loop. Another attachment is spaced apart from the permanently attached end of each tab, allowing the removably attachable end of the tab to be secured away from its permanently attached end in the manner of a belt loop or the like. Alternatively, the lifting means may comprise two radially opposed straps extending from the center opening of the top panel toward each edge thereof.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe Communion tray cover has several embodiments, each providing attractive and decorative concealment and protection of the underlying Communion trays prior to their use in a Communion service. The covers may be made of any suitable fabric material and may have any height desired to correspond with tray stacks containing different numbers of trays stacked to different heights.
The Communion tray cover 10a includes a top panel 12a. The top panel 12a, includes a hole or passage 14a, formed centrally therethrough to provide clearance for the crucifix that is often found extending from the lid or top of a Communion tray or stack of trays. The top or top panel 12a preferably has a circular periphery 16a, in keeping with the conventional circular shape of the Communion element trays. Side panel 18a has an upper edge 20a joined to the periphery 16a of its respective top panel 12a, the side panel depending from the top panel to its side panel lower edge 22a. The Communion tray cover 10a may include a pleated skirt 24 or other embellishment depending from the lower edge of the side panel, e.g., the lower edge 22a of the side panel 18a of the taller tray cover 10a, as shown in
The Communion tray cover 10b includes a top panel 12b. The top panel 12b, includes a hole or passage 14b, formed centrally therethrough to provide clearance for the crucifix that is often found extending from the lid or top of a Communion tray or stack of trays. The top or top panel 12b preferably has a circular periphery 16b, in keeping with the conventional circular shape of the Communion element trays. Side panel 18b has an upper edge 20b joined to the periphery 16b of its respective top panel 12b, the side panel depending from the top panel to its side panel lower edge 22b. The side panel 18b may be unpleated, as shown, or may alternatively comprise a pleated panel extending partially or completely from its upper edge 20b to its lower edge 22b. The side panel 18b forms a substantially cylindrical shape as it extends downward from the circular periphery of its top 12b.
The top and side panel of the cover 10b, as well as corresponding components of other embodiments of the cover, defines a Communion tray enclosure having an open bottom, as indicated by the reference numeral 26 of the alternative embodiment tray cover 10c, shown in
Most of the embodiments of the Communion tray cover also include a pair of diametrically opposed lifting tabs 30 extending from the juncture of the top panel periphery and the upper edge of the side panel, as shown in
The various embodiments of the Communion tray cover discussed to this point have all comprised at least generally cylindrical shapes. However, it will be seen that this is not a requirement.
The communion tray cover 10e of
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A Communion tray cover, comprising:
- a top panel having a crucifix passage disposed substantially centrally therethrough, the top panel having a circular periphery; and
- a side panel depending from the top panel, the side panel having an upper edge joined to the periphery of the top panel, the side panel having a lower edge opposite the upper edge, the top panel and the side panel defining a Communion tray enclosure, the Communion tray enclosure having an open bottom.
2. The Communion tray cover according to claim 1, wherein the top panel and the side panel are made from fabric, the tray cover further comprising a satin inner liner disposed within the top panel and the side panel.
3. The Communion tray cover according to claim 1, further including diametrically opposed first and second lifting tabs extending from the juncture of the top panel and side panel.
4. The Communion tray cover according to claim 3, wherein each of the lifting tabs has a permanently attached end and a distal end opposite the permanently attached end, the tray cover further comprising:
- a first fastener disposed upon the distal end of each of the lifting tabs;
- a second fastener disposed adjacent the permanently attached end of each of the lifting tabs; and
- a pair of third fasteners disposed upon the side panel, each of the third fasteners being spaced apart from the permanently attached end of a respective one of the lifting tabs, the first fastener of each of the lifting tabs being selectively and removably attachable to the corresponding second fastener or to the corresponding third fastener.
5. The Communion tray cover according to claim 1, further including radially opposed first and second lifting straps disposed upon the top panel.
6. The Communion tray cover according to claim 1, further including a pleated skirt extending to the lower edge of the side panel.
7. The Communion tray cover according to claim 1 wherein the side panel has a solid geometric shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical and frustoconical.
8. A Communion tray cover, comprising:
- a top panel having a periphery;
- a side panel depending from the periphery of the top panel, the top and side panels being formed of fabric; and
- a satin inner liner disposed within the top panel and the side panel.
9. The Communion tray cover according to claim 8, wherein:
- the top panel has a circular periphery and a crucifix passage disposed substantially centrally therethrough; and
- the top panel and side panel define a Communion tray enclosure, the Communion tray enclosure having an open bottom.
10. The Communion tray cover according to claim 8, wherein the side panel has an upper edge, the upper edge of the side panel being joined to the periphery of the top, the tray cover further comprising diametrically opposed first and second lifting tabs extending from the juncture of the top panel and side panel.
11. The Communion tray cover according to claim 10, wherein each of the lifting tabs has a permanently attached end and a distal end opposite the permanently attached end, the tray cover further comprising:
- a first fastener disposed upon the distal end of each of the lifting tabs;
- a second fastener disposed adjacent the permanently attached end of each of the lifting tabs; and
- a pair of third fasteners disposed upon the side panel, each of the third fasteners being spaced apart from the permanently attached end of a respective one of the lifting tabs, the first fastener of each of the lifting tabs being selectively and removably attachable to the corresponding second fastener or to the corresponding third fastener.
12. The Communion tray cover according to claim 8, further including radially opposed first and second lifting straps disposed upon the top panel.
13. The Communion tray cover according to claim 8, further wherein the side panel has a lower edge, the tray cover further comprising a pleated skirt extending to the lower edge of the side panel.
14. The Communion tray cover according to claim 8 wherein the side panel has a solid geometric shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical and frustoconical.
15. A Communion tray cover, comprising:
- a top panel having a periphery;
- a side panel having an upper edge, the upper edge of the side panel being joined to the periphery of the top panel; and
- diametrically opposed first and second lifting tabs extending from the juncture of the top panel and the side panel.
16. The Communion tray cover according to claim 15, wherein the top panel has a circular periphery and a crucifix passage disposed substantially centrally therethrough, the top panel and side panel defining a Communion tray enclosure, the Communion tray enclosure having an open bottom.
17. The Communion tray cover according to claim 15, wherein the top panel and the side panel are made of fabric, the tray cover further comprising a satin inner liner disposed within the top panel and the side panel.
18. The Communion tray cover according to claim 15, wherein each of the lifting tabs has a permanently attached end and a distal end opposite the permanently attached end, the tray cover further comprising:
- a first fastener disposed upon the distal end of each of the lifting tabs;
- a second fastener disposed adjacent the permanently attached end of each of the lifting tabs; and
- a pair of third fasteners disposed upon the side panel, each of the third fasteners being spaced apart from the permanently attached end of a respective one of the lifting tabs, the first fastener of each of the lifting tabs being selectively and removably attachable to the corresponding second fastener or to the corresponding third fastener.
19. The Communion tray cover according to claim 15, wherein the side panel has a lower edge, the tray cover further comprising a pleated skirt extending to the lower edge of the side panel.
20. The Communion tray cover according to claim 15, wherein:
- the side panel has a solid geometric shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical and frustoconical; and
- the top panel and the side panel have patterned exterior surfaces.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2011
Inventor: SHIRLEY R. SIMMS (Petersburg, VA)
Application Number: 13/072,447
International Classification: A47G 33/00 (20060101);