Collapsible Food Service Assembly

Abstract

A collapsible food service assembly for facile stowing when not in use includes a tray, a set of articles of tableware, and a set of fasteners. Each fastener is engaged to at least one of an upper face of the tray and a respective article of tableware. The fastener is selectively engageable to at least one of the tray and an associated one of the set of articles of tableware. The set of fasteners is positioned to removably couple the set of articles of tableware to the tray.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to food service assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new food service assembly for facile stowing when not in use.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to food service assembles. Prior art food service assembles do not provide for the base features of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tray, a set of articles of tableware, and a set of fasteners. Each fastener is engaged to at least one of an upper face of the tray and a respective article of tableware. The fastener is configured to be selectively engageable to at least one of the tray and an associated one of the set of articles of tableware. The set of fasteners is positioned to removably couple the set of articles of tableware to the tray.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a collapsible food service assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure in a collapsed configuration.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a deployed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new food service assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the collapsible food service assembly 10 generally comprises a tray 12, a set of articles of tableware 14, and a set of fasteners 16. The tray 12 is substantially rectangularly shaped. The tray 12 has corners 18, which are arcuate.

Each fastener 16 is engaged to at least one of an upper face 20 of the tray 12 and a respective article of tableware 14. The fastener 16 is configured to be selectively engageable to at least one of the tray 12 and an associated one of the set of articles of tableware 14. The set of fasteners 16 is positioned to removably couple the set of articles of tableware 14 to the tray 12.

The set of fasteners 16 comprises a clip 22, which is engaged to the tray 12 as shown in FIG. 3. The clip 22 is configured to selectively engage a piece of cutlery 24 so that the piece of cutlery 24 is engaged to the tray 12. The piece of cutlery 24 comprises at least one of a knife, a spoon, a fork, a straw, and a spork 26. The piece of cutlery 24 may comprise the spork 26, as shown in FIG. 1.

The set of fasteners 16 also comprises a peripheral ring 28, which is engaged to the tray 12 as shown in FIG. 3. The peripheral ring 28 is configured to selectively engage a bottom 30 of a drinking cup 32 so that the drinking cup 32 is frictionally engaged to the tray 12. The drinking cup 32 comprises at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer. The drinking cup 32 comprises a plurality of interconnected segments 34 so that the drinking cup 32 is collapsible.

The assembly 10 also comprises a lid 36, which is selectively engageable to the drinking cup 32 to close a top 60 thereof. The lid 36 has a hole 38 positioned therethrough. The hole 38 is configured for insertion of a straw (not shown).

The set of fasteners 16 also comprises a central ring 40 and a center ring 42. The central ring 40 is engaged to the tray 12 and is configured to selectively engage a lip 44 of a bowl 46 so that the bowl 46 is frictionally engaged to the tray 12. The center ring 42 is engaged to a plate 48 and is configured to selectively engage a base 50 of the bowl 46 so that the plate 48 is frictionally engaged to the bowl 46. The bowl 46 comprises a plurality of interconnected sections 52 so that the bowl 46 is collapsible, as shown in FIG. 1. The bowl 46 comprises at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer.

The present invention anticipates the fasteners 16 of the set of fasteners 16 comprising other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and the like.

A connector 54 is engaged to a lower face 56 of the tray 12 and is configured to selectively engage a surface, such as a tabletop, a wall, and a side of a refrigerator, to engage the tray 12 to the surface. The connector 54 may comprise a connecting cup 58, which is resiliently compressible. The connecting cup 58 is configured to be compressed between the tray 12 and the surface so that the tray 12 is suctionally engaged to the surface. The connecting cup 58 may be one of a set of connecting cups 58, with the connecting cups 58 being engaged singly proximate to each corner 18 of the tray 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The connecting cup 58 comprises at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer. The present invention anticipates the connector 54 comprising other connecting means, such as, but not limited to, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and the like.

In use, the assembly 10 is removed from storage and positioned on a surface, such as a table. The set of articles of tableware 14 is disengaged from the tray 12 and then the bowl 46 and drinking cup 32 are extended for use.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A collapsible food service assembly comprising:

a tray;

a set of articles of tableware; and

a set of fasteners, each fastener being engaged to at least one of an upper face of the tray and a respective article of tableware and being configured to be selectively engageable to at least one of the tray and an associated one of the set of articles of tableware, such that the set of fasteners is positioned for removably coupling the set of articles of tableware to the tray.

2. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray is substantially rectangularly shaped such that the tray has corners.

3. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 1, wherein the corners are arcuate.

4. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of fasteners comprises a clip engaged to the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a piece of cutlery, such that the piece of cutlery is engaged to the tray.

5. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 4, wherein the piece of cutlery comprises at least one of a knife, a spoon, a fork, a straw, and a spork.

6. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 5, wherein the piece of cutlery comprises a spork.

7. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of fasteners comprises a peripheral ring engaged to the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a bottom of a drinking cup, such that the drinking cup is frictionally engaged to the tray.

8. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 7, wherein the drinking cup comprises at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer.

9. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 7, further including a lid selectively engageable to the drinking cup for closing a top thereof.

10. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 9, wherein the lid has a hole positioned therethrough, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a straw.

11. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of fasteners comprises:

a central ring engaged to the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a lip of a bowl, such that the bowl is frictionally engaged to the tray; and

a center ring engaged to a plate and being configured for selectively engaging a base of the bowl, such that the plate is frictionally engaged to the bowl.

12. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the drinking cup comprises a plurality of interconnected segments such that the drinking cup is collapsible; and

the bowl comprises a plurality of interconnected sections such that the bowl is collapsible.

13. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 11, wherein the drinking cup and the bowl comprise at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer.

14. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 2, further including a connector engaged to a lower face of the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a surface for engaging the tray to the surface.

15. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 14, wherein the connector comprises a connecting cup, the connecting cup being resiliently compressible, wherein the connecting cup is configured for compressing between the tray and the surface, such that the tray is suctionally engaged to the surface.

16. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 15, wherein the connecting cup is one of a set of connecting cups, the connecting cups being engaged singly proximate to each corner of the tray.

17. The collapsible food service assembly of claim 15, wherein the connecting cup comprises at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer.

18. A collapsible food service assembly comprising:

a tray, the tray being substantially rectangularly shaped such that the tray has corners, the corners being arcuate;

a set of articles of tableware;

a set of fasteners, each fastener being engaged to at least one of an upper face of the tray and a respective article of tableware and being configured to be selectively engageable to at least one of the tray and an associated one of the set of articles of tableware, such that the set of fasteners is positioned for removably coupling the set of articles of tableware to the tray, the set of fasteners comprising: a clip engaged to the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a piece of cutlery, such that the piece of cutlery is engaged to the tray, the piece of cutlery comprising at least one of a knife, a spoon, a fork, a straw, and a spork, the piece of cutlery comprising a spork, a peripheral ring engaged to the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a bottom of a drinking cup, such that the drinking cup is frictionally engaged to the tray, the drinking cup comprising a plurality of interconnected segments such that the drinking cup is collapsible, the drinking cup comprising at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer, a central ring engaged to the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a lip of a bowl, such that the bowl is frictionally engaged to the tray, the bowl comprising a plurality of interconnected sections such that the bowl is collapsible, the bowl comprising at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer, and a center ring engaged to a plate and being configured for selectively engaging a base of the bowl, such that the plate is frictionally engaged to the bowl;

a lid selectively engageable to the drinking cup for closing a top thereof, the lid having a hole positioned therethrough, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a straw; and

a connector engaged to a lower face of the tray and being configured for selectively engaging a surface for engaging the tray to the surface, the connector comprising a connecting cup, the connecting cup being resiliently compressible, wherein the connecting cup is configured for compressing between the tray and the surface, such that the tray is suctionally engaged to the surface, the connecting cup being one of a set of connecting cups, the connecting cups being engaged singly proximate to each corner of the tray, the connecting cup comprising at least one of rubber, silicone, and elastomer.