Serving Tray
A serving tray may include an open-sided tray body and a plurality of bands. The tray body may include a tray bottom and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter, wherein the tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter. The plurality of bands may extending at least partially across the open space to form a band pattern spaced apart from the tray bottom, the band pattern dividing the open space into a plurality of subdivided areas. The band pattern may be configured to maintain the relative positions of items, e.g., glasses, bottles, dishes, condiments, etc., received in the subdivided areas.
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The present disclosure is related to a serving tray, for example, a serving tray having a plurality of bands arranged to define openings for receiving and holding glasses, bottles, dishes, or other items.
BACKGROUNDServing trays or platters are typically used to carry glasses, dishes, bottles, condiments, or other items. A typical serving tray is designed an open, flat tray having a rim or raised edge around the outer perimeter of the tray to help prevent items from sliding off the side of the tray as the tray is carried by a person, e.g., by a waiter. However, it is still relatively common for items to fall of a typical serving tray, or to slide across the tray causing the person to drop the tray.
SUMMARYSome embodiments provide a serving tray including an open-sided tray body and a plurality of bands. The open-sided tray body includes a tray bottom and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter, wherein the tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter. The plurality of bands extends at least partially across the open space to form a band pattern spaced apart from the tray bottom, the band pattern dividing the open space into a plurality of subdivided areas, wherein the band pattern is configured to maintain the relative positions of items, e.g., glasses, bottles, dishes, condiments, etc., received in the subdivided areas.
Some embodiments provide a serving tray having an open-sided tray body including a tray bottom and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter. The tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter, and the at least one side wall comprises a plurality of band locating structures configured to locate a plurality of bands extending at least partially across the open space.
Some embodiments provide a method of configuring a serving tray. The method includes providing an open-sided tray body including a tray bottom and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter, wherein the tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter. The method further includes arranging a plurality of bands extending at least partially across the open space to form a band pattern spaced apart from the tray bottom, the band pattern dividing the open space into a plurality of subdivided areas configured to maintain relative positions of items received in the subdivided areas.
Some embodiments of the disclosure may be understood by referring, in part, to the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:
In this example embodiment, tray body 12 includes a single side wall 22 that defines a rounded (e.g., circular) perimeter 26, with a pair of opposing handles 30 extending from the side wall 22. Other embodiments may include multiple side walls 22 that may be connected to each other to form a continuous perimeter (e.g., a rectangular tray 10A having four side walls 22 connected at four corners), or spaced apart to form a segmented perimeter (e.g., a tray 10A having side walls 22 only on two opposing sides). Further, the side wall(s) 22 may define a perimeter 26 having any other suitable shape, e.g., a rounded shape such as a circle, oval, or ellipse, a rectangular shape such as a square or elongated rectangle having angled or rounded corners, a triangular shape having angled or rounded corners, a pentagon shape having angled or rounded corners, a hexagon shape having angled or rounded corners, or any other rounded or non-rounded, regular or irregular shape.
In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments bands 14 are removable from the tray body 12 (or from a band ring, as discussed below with reference to
In other embodiments, one or more bands 14 may be permanently secured to the tray body 12 (or to a band ring, as discussed below with reference to
Bands 14 may be formed from any suitable material or materials, and may have any suitable shape and/or size. For example, bands 14 may be formed from a substantially elastic material, such as rubber or an elastic silicone or plastic material. Alternatively, bands 14 may be formed from a substantially inelastic material, such as a substantially inelastic fabric for example.
In some embodiments, such as the example shown in
In some embodiments, serving tray 10A includes a set of identical bands 14. In other embodiments, serving tray 10A includes a non-identical set of bands 14, in which at least two bands 14 have a different size (e.g., length and/or thickness) and/or are formed from different materials.
In some embodiments, tray 10A includes a band locating structures that define predefined positions or attachment points for bands 14 and/or help secure bands 14 to the tray body 12 (or band ring), e.g., such that the bands 14 do not slide or fall off of tray body 12 (or the band ring).
Second, a plurality of guide protrusions 52 may be formed on side wall 22 for guiding and/or securing bands 14. Guide protrusions 52 may be arranged in any manner around all or portions of the wall perimeter 26, e.g., at regularly spaced intervals or at irregularly spaced intervals. In some embodiments, guide protrusions 52 are arranged in pairs, each pair being configured to receive a band 14. For example, each pair of guide protrusions 52 may be spaced apart by a distance equal to or slightly larger than a width of a band. However, guide protrusions 52 may be arranged in any other manner.
Band pattern 40 may comprise any suitable geometric pattern. As discussed above, in some embodiments the band pattern 40 is user-configurable and reconfigurable, e.g., by adding bands 14, removing bands 14, and/or adjusting the location(s) of bands 14. Each band pattern 40 may be a regular or irregular pattern, and symmetric about one line of symmetry, symmetric about multiple lines of symmetry, or not symmetric about any lines of symmetry.
Some band patterns 30 includes at least two bands 14 extending parallel to each other. In some patterns 30, all bands 14 extend parallel to each other.
Some band patterns 30 includes at least two bands 14 extending perpendicular to each other. In some patterns 30, all bands 14 are arranged either parallel or perpendicular to each other, e.g., to form a checkerboard-type pattern defining rectangular subdivided areas 42.
Some band patterns 30 includes at least two bands 14 extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to each other. In some patterns 30, at least one band 14 is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to every other band 14 in the pattern 40. In some patterns 30, every band 14 is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to every other band 14 in the pattern 40.
Some band patterns 30 includes at least three bands 14 that crossing each other at a single location in the pattern. In some patterns 30, all bands 14 cross at a single location, e.g., at a geometric center point defined by the wall perimeter 26.
Some band patterns 30 are arranged such that all subdivided areas 42 defined by the band pattern 40 have the same shape and/or geometric area. Other band patterns 30 define subdivided areas 42 having different shapes and/or areas.
Some band patterns 30 define at least one subdivided area 42 having a lateral perimeter defined on all sides by a number of bands 14 (e.g., three, four, five, six, or more bands 14), and thus located inward from and spaced apart from the wall perimeter 26. In other band patterns 30, each subdivided area 42 is bounded on at least one side by a (linear or curved) side wall 22.
In the example band pattern 40 shown in
As discussed above, tray 10A may include band locating structures, such as notches 50 or guide protrusions 52, which may define a predetermined set of possible positions for each band 14. In such embodiments, the universe of possible band patterns 30 may be defined by the number and arrangement of the band locating structures. Thus, the number and arrangement of band locating structures may allow for any one or more of the various band pattern attributes discussed above, depending on the particular user-selected configuration of bands.
Each strap-type band 14 may include a suitable structure or device that can be removably secured to each connector 60. In the illustrated example, each strap-type band 14 includes a ring 62 (e.g., formed from metal, plastic, or rubber) connected at each end of the band 14, which rings 62 are configured to removably connect to any of the hook-shaped connectors 60, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, loop-type bands 14 may be used with example serving tray 10B, with each loop passing under any suitable number of hook-type connectors 60, and crossing the open space 28 at least twice.
The illustrated example includes loop-type bands 14 releasably secured to structures 66 such that each band 14 crosses the open space 28 twice. In other embodiments, serving tray 10C may use strap-type bands 14, with the ends of each band 14 attaching to selected band-attachment structures 66, such that each band crosses the open space 28 only once. Thus, using loop-type bands 14 in an arrangement similar to that shown in
Band ring 70 may be removably attachable to tray body 12 in any suitable manner. For example, band ring 70 may include a lip that extends over a top edge of tray body 12. As another example, band ring 70 may fit inside the wall perimeter 26 and rest on a lip 76 or other structure of tray body 12. Band ring 70 may be attach to tray body 12 in any other suitable manner.
Band ring 70 may have any suitable perimeter shape, which may or may not match the wall perimeter 26 of the corresponding tray body 12. For example, a perimeter of band ring 70 may have a rounded shape such as a circle, oval, or ellipse, a rectangular shape such as a square or elongated rectangle having angled or rounded corners, a triangular shape having angled or rounded corners, a pentagon shape having angled or rounded corners, a hexagon shape having angled or rounded corners, or any other rounded or non-rounded, regular or irregular shape.
In certain embodiments in which bands 14 extend below the tray bottom 20, when the tray 10 is placed on a table or other support surface, the bands 14 may rest directly on the support surface and maintain the bottom surface of the tray bottom 20 spaced apart from the support surface. For example, in the embodiment shown in
As discussed above, band patterns 40 may include any suitable geometric patterns, which may be user-configurable and reconfigurable, e.g., by adding bands 14, removing bands 14, and/or adjusting the location(s) of bands 14.
It should be understood that the illustrated examples of
Although the disclosed embodiments are described in detail in the present disclosure, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope.
Claims
1. A serving tray, comprising:
- an open-sided tray body including: a tray bottom; and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter; wherein the tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter;
- a plurality of bands extending at least partially across the open space to form a band pattern spaced apart from the tray bottom, the band pattern dividing the open space into a plurality of subdivided areas;
- wherein the band pattern is configured to maintain relative positions of items received in the subdivided areas.
2. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the wall perimeter has a rounded shape.
3. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the wall perimeter has a generally rectangular shape.
4. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the bands are elastic.
5. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the bands are removable from the tray body.
6. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the bands are adjustably positionable with respect to the tray body to form multiple different band patterns.
7. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein at least one band comprises a loop extending around the open-side tray body.
8. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein at least one band comprises a strap having a first end secured to the serving tray at a first location to a second end secured to the serving tray at a second location.
9. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the band pattern includes at least two bands extending parallel to each other.
10. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the band pattern includes at least two bands extending non-parallel to each other.
11. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the band pattern includes at least two bands extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to each other.
12. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein a first subdivided area defined by the band pattern is located inward from and spaced apart from the wall perimeter, and has an area perimeter defined on all sides by the bands.
13. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein a first subdivided area defined by the band pattern has an area perimeter having no lines of symmetry.
14. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall comprises a plurality of band locating structures to locate at least one of the bands in at least one predefined position.
15. The serving tray of claim 14, wherein the band locating structures comprises grooves or openings formed in the at least one side wall.
16. The serving tray of claim 14, wherein the band locating structures comprises protrusions on the at least one side wall.
17. The serving tray of claim 1, comprising:
- a ring removably secured to the open-sided tray body, the ring defining a ring perimeter;
- wherein the plurality of bands are secured to the ring, each band extending across an open space defined within the ring perimeter;
- such that when the ring is secured to the open-sided tray body, the plurality of bands extend at least partially across the open space of the tray body.
18. The serving tray of claim 17, wherein the bands are removably secured to the ring.
19. The serving tray of claim 17, wherein the bands are adjustably positionable with respect to the ring form multiple different band patterns.
20. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein the bands extend around the open-side tray body and below a bottom surface of the tray bottom, such that when the serving tray is placed on an object surface, the bands maintain the bottom surface of the tray bottom spaced apart from the object surface.
21. The serving tray of claim 1, wherein:
- each band has a band thickness; and
- the tray bottom includes: a non-recessed portion defining a non-recessed bottom surface, and a recessed portion defining a recessed bottom surface, the recessed bottom surface being recessed from the non-recessed bottom surface by at least two times the band thickness of a particular band.
22. A serving tray, comprising:
- an open-sided tray body including: a tray bottom; and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter; wherein the tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter; and wherein the at least one side wall comprises a plurality of band locating structures configured to locate a plurality of bands extending at least partially across the open space.
23. A method of configuring a serving tray, comprising:
- providing an open-sided tray body including: a tray bottom; and at least one side wall projecting from the tray bottom and defining a wall perimeter; wherein the tray bottom and the at least one side wall define an open space above the bottom and within the wall perimeter; and
- arranging a plurality of bands extending at least partially across the open space to form a band pattern spaced apart from the tray bottom, the band pattern dividing the open space into a plurality of subdivided areas configured to maintain relative positions of items received in the subdivided areas.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2014
Applicant: Finell Company, LLC (Austin, TX)
Inventors: Rebecca Finell (Austin, TX), Alexandra Madeleine Busch (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 13/900,936
International Classification: A47G 23/06 (20060101);