WO2019018535A1

WO2019018535A1 - Food tray system

Info

Publication number: WO2019018535A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/042703
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralph Allen; Matt Hintz
Original assignee: Traycups, Llc
Priority date: 2017-07-18
Filing date: 2018-07-18
Publication date: 2019-01-24

Abstract

A food tray includes a plate portion having an opening therein. An insert portion may be connected to the plate portion at the opening and may extend away from the opening. The insert portion may be sized and shaped to correspond to a beverage container and may be insertable into the beverage container such that the plate portion is supported on a rim of the beverage container. The food tray may include a plate and a receptacle portion having a base to support a beverage container therein. When inserted into the receptacle portion, the beverage container may extend above the plate to provide a barrier between any food items on the plate and a beverage within the container.

Description

FOOD TRAY SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/533,846 filed on July 18, 2017 and entitled INSERT ABLE TRAY, which is hereby incorporated by reference

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a food tray system for a beverage receptacle, and more specifically to a tray adapted to be connected to or integrated with a beverage container or receptacle for holding food or beverage items.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Concession stands at arenas, stadiums, fairs, and the like provide a wide variety of food and beverage options for patrons. Often times patrons will purchase one or more beverages as well as food in the same visit to a concession stand, to avoid revisiting long lines or to bring back concessions for friends. The common problem however is carrying both food and beverages together.

[0004] Arenas and stadiums often supply drink carriers for patrons who purchase multiple beverages to assist in carrying the beverages. However, there is currently no workable solution offered by arenas for carrying both food and beverages together. Even for a single beverage and food item purchase, patrons are forced to carry their purchase with two separate hands. [0005] Similarly, at cocktail parties, party goers often enjoy both a cocktail and food together. However, lack of table space at a cocktail party can lead to party goes holding both their beverage and food plat at the same time. The common problem becomes attempting to eat food off of the plate while holding ones beverage.

[0006] For some beverages, such as Bloody Marys, connoisseurs often enjoy a large variety of garnishes, including pickles, olives or stuffed olives, cheese, bacon, lemons or limes, or even other more creative and unique garnishes. When a large number of garnishes are inserted into the Bloody Mary beverage container, it may be difficult to drink the beverage. However, removing the garnishes from the glass or receptacle requires a plate that then must be carried in a separate hand.

[0007] Accordingly, an improved food tray for a beverage container is needed.

SUMMARY

[0008] A food tray sytem is generally provided. The food tray includes a plate portion having an opening therein. An insert portion may be connected to the plate portion at the opening and may extend away from the opening. The insert portion may be sized and shaped to correspond to a beverage container and may be insertable into the beverage container such that the plate portion is supported on a rim of the beverage container.

[0009] In an embodiment, a food tray may include a plate and a receptacle portion. The plate may include an opening therein, and the receptacle portion may extend away from the opening. The receptacle portion may include a base at its bottom configured to support a glass or beverage container. The receptacle portion may be sized and shaped to receive the beverage container therein and support its weigh. When inserted into the receptacle portion, the beverage container may extend above the plate to provide a barrier between any food items on the plate and a beverage within the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an insertable food tray;

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an insertable food tray;

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an insertable food tray;

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of an insertable food tray inserted into the top opening of a beverage glass;

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of an insertable food tray inserted into the top opening of a beverage glass and holding a variety of food items;

[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a food tray having a beverage receptacle having a beverage container positioned in the beverage receptacle;

[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a food tray having a beverage receptacle having a beverage container positioned in the beverage receptacle;

[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a food tray having a beverage receptacle having a beverage container positioned in the beverage receptacle;

[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a beverage food tray integrally formed with a beverage container;

[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a food tray having a plurality of dividing ridges formed in the plate; [0021] FIG. 1 1 illustrates a side view of a food tray having a plurality of dividing ridges formed in the plate; and

[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates a tilted perspective view of a food tray having a plurality of dividing ridges formed in the plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0024] A food tray 10 configured to be used with a beverage container is generally presented. The food tray 10 is configured to be integrated with a drinking vessel or beverage container, such as a beverage glass or the like, to provide a horizontal surface extending from the container for holding food or other items.

[0025] As described herein, the food tray 10 may be formed of any appropriate material, such as a plastic, polymer, or the like. The food tray 10 may be formed by an injection molding process to form a unitary piece or may be otherwise formed or assembled in multiple pieces. In an embodiment, the insertable food tray 10 may be formed of a disposable or recyclable material, such as paper, plastic, Styrofoam, or the like. [0026] As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the food tray 10 may be configured to be insertable into a beverage container or glass 22. The food tray 10 may include an insert portion 12 and a plate portion 14. The insert portion 12 and plate portion 14 may be integrally formed or may be connected to one another at a connection seam.

[0027] The plate portion 14 may comprise a generally flat or slightly curved surface having a bottom side 16 and a top side 18 configured to support food or other items. The plate portion 14 may be any appropriate shape and size, such as generally circular as shown in the FIGS, or any other appropriate shape. The plate portion 14 may include an opening 20. The opening 20 may be any appropriate size and shape, such as generally circular and sized and shaped to correspond to the opening in a beverage glass. The opening 20 may be positioned in the center of the plate portion 14 to evenly distribute the plate portion 14 and the weight of its contents about the center of the beverage glass.

[0028] As shown in FIGS 1-3, the insert portion 12 may extend outward and away from the bottom 16 of the plate portion 14. The insert portion 12 may be tapered or conically shaped to correspond to the tapered angle of a beverage glass. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a typical pint glass 22 have a taper of between two (2) and ten (10) degrees. The insert portion 14 may be similarly tapered to correspond to the angular taper of the glass 22. The taper of the insert portion 12 may be equal to or greater than the taper of the glass to allow the entire insert portion 12 to rest within the volume of the glass 22. The insert portion 12 may include a bottom opening to allow the beverage or a straw to pass therethrough. It will be appreciated, however, that the insert portion may have any appropriate taper or no taper at all, such as cylindrically shaped, to correspond to any appropriate beverage glass 22.

[0029] In an embodiment, the plate portion 14 may include an outer lip 24. The outer lip 24 may extend upward from the top side 18 of the plate portion 14, such as along the outer rim or edge of the plate portion 14. The intersection between the outer lip 24 and the plate portion 14 may be linear or may be a curved intersection, as illustrated in the FIGS. The outer lip 24 may provide a rim to prevent food from falling off of the plate portion 14.

[0030] In an embodiment, the plate portion 14 may include an inner lip (not shown). The inner lip may extend upward from the top side 18 of the plate portion 14 at or near the rim of the opening 20. The inner lip may prevent food items from falling into the opening 20.

[0031] In an embodiment, the insertable food tray 10 may include a lid (not shown) configured to cover the opening 20. The lid may be configured to prevent food items from falling into the beverage glass 22. The lid may include a hole for receiving a straw therethough to allow for a user to drink the beverage while the tray is inserted into the glass 22.

[0032] In use, the insertable food tray 10, such as described herein, may be placed into a beverage receptacle or glass 22. The insertable portion 12 may be inserted into the opening of the glass 22 until the bottom side 16 of the plate portion 14 rests on the rim of the glass 22. A beverage may then be poured into the glass 22. A straw may be inserted through the opening 20 to allow a user to drink the beverage. Food items may then be placed on the plate portion 14. The glass 22 and insertable food tray 10 may then be carried and transported using only one hand, to allow a user to have a free hand for other tasks.

[0033] In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-12, the food tray 10 may include a receptacle portion 30 instead of an insertable portion 12. The receptacle portion 30 may be integral with the plate 14 or connected thereto and may extend away from the plate 14 at the opening 20. The receptacle portion 30 may have any appropriate cross-sectional shape, such as circular, to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of a drinking glass 22. The receptacle portion 30 may be tapered or cylindrical to similarly correspond to the shape of the drinking glass 22. The receptacle portion may include a base 32 located at its bottom. The base 32 may be configured to support a drinking glass 22, such as a glass or plastic drinking container, within the receptacle portion 30. The receptacle portion 30 may be sized and shaped to allow a portion of the glass 22 to extend above the plate 14 when placed into the food tray 10. The extended portion of the glass 22 may provide a barrier between food items on the plate 14 and a beverage within the glass 22.

[0034] In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the food tray 10 may include a drinking container 34 integrally formed with the plate 14. The drinking container 34 and plate 14 may be integrally formed or connected together and may be configured to hold a beverage within the drinking container 34.

[0035] With reference to FIGS. 10-12, the plate 14 may include one or more ridges 36. The ridges 36 may comprise indentations in the bottom of the plate 16 to form a bump or raised portion in the top of the plate 18. The ridges 36 may provide barriers for containing food items within a region of the plate 14.

[0036] In use, a food tray 10 having a receptacle portion 30 may be provided, along with a corresponding drinking glass 22. The glass 22 may be sized and shaped to fit within the receptacle portion. The glass may be placed within the receptacle portion 30 and supported by the base 32. The top of the glass 22 may extend above the plate 41 to prevent interaction between any foot items on the plate 14 and a beverage within the glass 22.

[0037] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A food tray system comprising:

a plate portion having an opening therein;

an insert portion connected to the plate portion at the opening and extending away from the opening;

a beverage container, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the beverage container corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the insert portion;

wherein the insert portion is insertable into the beverage container to be supported on a rim of the beverage container and position the plate portion above the rim of the beverage container.

2. The food tray system of claim 1 , wherein the plate portion is integrally formed with the insert portion.

3. The food tray system of claim 1 , wherein the plate portion is circular.

4. The food tray system of claim 1, wherein the opening is generally positioned at a geometric center of the plate portion.

5. The food tray system of claim 1 further comprising a lip extending upward from the plate portion.

6. The food tray system of claim 1 further comprising one or more dividing ridges formed in the plate portion.

7. A food tray system comprising:

a plate portion having an opening therein;

an receptacle portion connected to the plate portion at the opening and extending away from the opening; a beverage container, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the beverage container corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the receptacle portion;

wherein the receptacle portion is configured to receive the beverage container therein and support the beverage container within the receptacle portion.

8. The food tray system of claim 7, wherein the receptacle portion is conically or cylindrically shaped.

9. The food tray system of claim 8, wherein the receptacle portion includes a base positioned at a bottom of the receptacle portion.

10. The food tray system of claim 7, wherein the plate portion is integrally formed with the receptacle portion.

11. The food tray system of claim 7, wherein the plate portion is circular.

12. The food tray system of claim 7, wherein the opening is generally positioned at a geometric center of the plate portion.

13. The food tray system of claim 7 further comprising a lip extending upward from the plate portion.

14. The food tray system of claim 7 further comprising one or more dividing ridges formed in the plate portion.

15. A method of using food tray system, the method comprising:

providing a food tray, wherein the food tray includes:

a plate portion having an opening therein;

providing a beverage container having a top opening and having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the insert portion; inserting the food tray into the beverage container, wherin the insert portion is inserted into the top opening of the beverage container and supported on a rim of the beverage container.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plate portion is integrally formed with the insert portion.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plate portion is circular.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the opening is generally positioned at a geometric center of the plate portion.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the plate portion further comprises a lip extending upward from an outer edge of the plate portion.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the plate portion further comprises one or more dividing ridges formed in the plate portion.