MXPA97003574A

MXPA97003574A - Carola caradora de alimentos which is used on elreg

Info

Publication number: MXPA97003574A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/003574A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Sussman Sy
Original assignee: Sussman Sy
Priority date: 1994-11-17
Filing date: 1997-05-15
Publication date: 1997-08-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tray for carrying food, this tray having opposite rear and front sides, and comprising a base on which the food is to be placed: a first raised lip projecting from, and extending around , the periphery of the base, to form a barrier in order to prevent the food that is placed on the base from slipping from said tray, a gap formed through the base and sized to receive a cup to drink therein; a pair of legs hanging downward from the base on opposite sides of said tray, the legs projecting below the base by a distance sufficient to rest on a flat surface, and to extend under the lap and along the legs of a user, to hold the tray against lateral sliding movement, when the user is seated and the base is placed on the user's lap

Description

CAROLA CAROLA DE ALIMENTOS WHICH IS USED ON THE LAP This invention relates to a low cost, disposable tray, which is worn on the lap, on which it can be conveniently and safely carried - different food items and a drinking cup filled with a beverage (eg, such such as those available in a take-out or fast-food restaurant), while the user is traveling as a passenger in a moving vehicle. BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE It is common for adults and children to stop at a take-away or fast-food restaurant, when traveling in a vehicle away from home, to buy different food items, such as, but not limited to, hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, pizzas, chips, chips, and a drinking cup that has been filled with a drink. The consumer may wish to take their purchase away from the restaurant on a flat tray or in a box. If the consumer is traveling as a passenger in a moving vehicle, he may wish to carry the box or tray on his lap, and while in transit, eat the food items and drink the beverage from the cup. In this case, the consumer must keep at least one hand on the box or tray for most of the time to prevent the box or tray from sliding and possibly falling from his lap. In a more particular way, when the ride is characterized by bumps, turns and sudden stops or starts, the vehicle is often subjected to different mechanical forces. These forces are transmitted from the vehicle to the box or tray on which the food and the drinking cup are carried. The food and the cup can move in response to the forces to which the box or tray is subjected. In this regard, the food may roll or slide off the tray and / or the cup may flip over. As a result, food can fall on the floor and become inedible. Moreover, the drink can spill. If the drink is hot, the consumer could suffer damage. In any case, food and drink can be wasted, and something or all of the food can be lost. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A lap tray is described which overcomes the aforementioned problems, which are inherent with the usual boxes and trays on which the takeaway or fast food is carried by a consumer traveling as a passenger in a container. vehicle in motion. The lap tray of the present invention includes a pair of flat base members that are configured side by side, and surrounded by a first raised lip that functions as a barrier to prevent food articles carried on the base members from sliding. of the tray. A second raised lip extends through the middle part of the tray, between the flat base members, to form two separate compartments where different food items can be carried. A gap is formed through the back of the middle portion of the tray between its opposite sides. The gap is surrounded by an annular support flange, and is dimensioned to receive a conventional drinking cup therein, such that the cup is retained erect in order to prevent spillage of the liquid contents. A pair of legs hang down from the base members in a parallel parallel alignment on opposite sides of the tray. When the base is flat on the user's lap, the legs of the tray extend downwards along the legs of the user, to prevent the lateral movement of the tray, and in this way both hands of the user are released to lift the food and the cup to drink from the tray. The legs of the tray located against the legs of the user also stabilize the tray in response to the turbulence induced by the path, to prevent food from sliding around the base members when the vehicle is in motion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the food tray used on the lap, which forms the present invention. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the lap tray of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the lap tray of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross section of the tray for the lap, taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side elevation of the lap tray of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a cross section of the lap tray, taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 1. Figure 7 shows the lap tray resting on the lap of a user, who assumes a sitting position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The tray that is used on the lap 1 for carrying food, which forms the present invention, is initially described by referring concurrently to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings. As will be described in more detail when referring hereinafter to Figure 7, the lap tray 1 is adapted to be placed in the lap of a user, when the user is in a sitting position. In this aspect the lap tray 1 can be placed across the user's legs while traveling as a passenger in a moving vehicle, to better stabilize the tray in response to the usual physical forces typically encountered by people They travel by car, truck, bus, etc., on bumpy and undulating roads. The lap tray 1 is preferably manufactured (eg, molded or pressed) from a low cost impact resistant material, such as reprocessed paper (ie, molded fiber), plastic or the like . The tray 1 is provided with a pair of flat base members 2 and 3 located side by side. A raised first lip 4 having an inverted V shape projects upwards from, and extends around, the outer periphery of the base members 2 and 3 to provide a barrier and thus prevent food carried over the base members slide from the tray 1. In addition, a second raised lip 4-1 extends in a direction through the middle part of the tray 1 between the base members 2 and 3, to define two compartments for serving separately, where different food products are carried, such as those commonly sold or available in fast food or take-away restaurants. Projecting upwards from the rear of the tray 1, there is an annular cup support flange 6. The cup support flange 6 surrounds a recess 8 formed through the tray 1 halfway between its opposite sides . The recess 8 has a diameter that is dimensioned to receive therein a drinking cup (shown in phantom lines in Figures 1 and 2, and designated by reference numeral 10), which is commonly available in food restaurants takeaway and fast food, and where a hot or cold beverage is usually served (for example, coffee, soda, or water). When the drinking cup 10 is located in the gap 8 through the tray 1, a relatively tight friction fit is established between the cup and the support flange 6. Accordingly, the cup 10 will be reliably retained by the flange of the cup. support 6 against sliding movement, and it will remain in an upright condition inside the recess 8, to minimize the possibility of the bowl turning over and spilling the beverage that is inside the cup 10 when the tray 1 is taken from a place to another and / or subjected to the turbulence of the road. As best shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, the raised second lip 4-1 and the annular cup support flange 6 are coextensively joined with one another. With the hole 8 to receive a drinking cup 10 located on the back of the tray for the lap 1, the cup 10 will be carried in and out of place on the tray for the lap 1, while allowing the user to have a relatively easy and unobstructed access from the front of the tray and to the food carried in the adjacent serving compartments above the base members 2 and 3. Downwardly from the base members 2 and 3 of the tray for the lap 1 there is a pair of legs 12. The legs 12 are separated from one another and arranged in a parallel alignment on opposite sides of the tray. Each leg 12 includes an inward facing surface 14 (best shown in Figure 4) that has an arched shape to facilitate the tray 1 resting on the user's lap (better shown in Figure 7). For this purpose, and now referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, the tray for the lap 1 is shown with the flat base members 2 and 3 seated through the user's legs, such as, when the user is a passenger traveling in a moving motor vehicle. The legs 12 of the tray 1 hanging from the base members 2 and 3 extend downwards along the outer sides of the legs of the user, to help prevent a lateral displacement of the tray, and a corresponding movement of the food 16 carried on it, in response to the turbulence induced by the road. Moreover, a cup 10 received by the cup support flange 6 may be of sufficient length to project downwards from the lap tray 1, be arranged between the user's legs and cooperate with the legs 12 to help stabilize the tray. In accordance with the foregoing, the user does not need to use his hands to constantly stop the tray on his lap, but conveniently will have both hands free to lift the food 16 and the drinking cup 10 from the tray l for consumption. Once the food is finished or the trip is completed, the lap tray 1 is easily removed from the user's lap, discarded or stored for reuse. Although it has been described that the lap tray 1 has a particular application to be used by an individual transporting food while traveling as a passenger in a moving vehicle, it should be understood that the lap tray 1 described herein also it can be conveniently used with the user at rest, while watching a sporting event, or at home while sitting in a reclining chair and watching the television. What's more, the lap tray does not need to rest on a user's lap, but can also be placed on any flat surface, such as a table or the floor.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the foregoing invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, property is claimed as contained in the following: CLAIMS 1. A tray for carrying food, having this tray opposite rear and front sides, and comprising a base on which the food is to be placed; a first raised lip projecting from, and extending around, the periphery of the base, to form a barrier in order to prevent the food that is placed on the base from slipping from said tray; a gap formed through the base and sized to receive a drinking cup therein; and a pair of legs hanging down from the base on opposite sides of said tray, the legs projecting below the base for a enough distance to rest on a flat surface, and to extend under the lap and along the legs of a user, to hold the tray against lateral sliding movement, when the user is seated and the base is placed on the user's lap . The tray for carrying food according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a second raised lip projecting from, and extending in a direction through the base, between the front and back of the tray, to establish a pair of adjacent compartments for food separated by the second lifted lip. 3. The tray for carrying food as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises an annular ridge projecting upwards from the base and surrounding the hole through the base, to support the drinking cup received in the hollow, in an erect position. 4. The tray for carrying food according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular rim surrounding the hollow is thinned to support drinking cups of different diameters, to be received in said hollow. 5. The tray for carrying food according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole through the base is located in the rear part of the tray, halfway between its opposite sides, in such a way that The drinking cup received in this hole does not obstruct access to the food placed on the base by the front of said tray. The tray for carrying food according to claim 1, characterized in that the base, the peripheral lip, and the pair of legs, are all formed of molded fiber paper. 7. The tray for carrying food according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the pair of legs hanging down from, and extending below said base has a curved inward surface to receive legs against it of the user, and in this way hold the tray against lateral sliding movement. 8. The tray for carrying food according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of legs hanging down from, and extending below, said base, are configured in an alignment parallel with each other.