ES2879124A1 - Waiter tray with antipathogenic carrying lid (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

The waiter's tray with an anti-pathogen supporting lid comprises a set consisting of a necessarily round tray that works in combination with a domed lid equipped with a handle on the upper part that performs a double function as a protective barrier against pathogens and as a supporting element by having of the ability to be attached and anchored to the tray with a simple wrist twist maneuver without the need for physical contact between the user and the tray. The combined action of the tray and the lid as well as its simple capture and release system provides a series of undeniable advantages, and not seen until now, in relation to the hygienic-sanitary aspects linked to the action of serving a table that redound in greater and better protection for clients and workforce against the possible presence of pathogens or pollutants in the hospitality sector. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

WAITER TRAY WITH ANTI-PATHOGENESTIC CARRIER LID

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as the title indicates, consists of a set consisting of a necessarily round waiter tray that works in combination with a domed lid equipped with a handle on its upper part that performs a double function as a protective barrier against pathogens and as a bearing element as it has the ability to be attached and anchored to the tray by means of a simple wrist twist maneuver without the need for physical contact between the user and the tray.

This invention constitutes an important novelty in the state of the art since it substantially modifies the traditional concept of the waiter's tray, both in terms of design and in terms of its operation and handling.

The combined action of the tray and the lid as well as its simple capture and release system provides a series of undeniable advantages, and not seen until now, in relation to the hygienic-sanitary aspects linked to the action of serving a table that are redundant. in greater and better protection for clients and workforce against the possible presence of pathogens or pollutants in the hospitality industry.

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention has its field of application within the sector of accessories for the hospitality industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In terms of industrial property, there are several proposals that analyze and try to solve various problems derived from the use of a traditional waiter's tray, such as stability, ease of use or the pouring of liquids, but this part is not sure that an invention exists. that responds specifically to the deficiencies in hygienic-sanitary matters that the use of a traditional waiter tray entails.

The models consulted are the following:

Utility model ES 1223374 - Tray with clamping system

"The tray with a clamping system, arises from experience to improve current techniques, provides a cavity in the center of the tray that serves as a handle to facilitate the transport of the same by waiters in a remarkable way," because the weight of the tray is balanced and it also provides solutions for liquid spills to drain to the base of the tray so that they do not affect the stability of the glasses, or stain the customers. "

Utility model ES 1200087 - Waiter tray

"Specifically, this invention has as its object a tray of the type used by waiters to serve the drinks of clients of catering establishments, specially designed to have maximum stability and avoid spillage of the content during their transport, incorporating a clamping element that facilitates a better clamping of the tray "

Utility model ES 1061177

"Tray with a through hole for the transport and service of food and beverages in the hospitality industry", which presents "on the surface of the tray and in an area close to any of its quadrants, a circular thickening with a through hole of a diameter determined by which the thumb passes loosely to press the thickener and the lower surface ”.

The file ES 1074007 - Perforated tray.

"Basically equipped with a series of perforations conveniently distributed to accommodate as many glasses with the drink already served".

The file ES1030067 -Support tray holder for hospitality

“ A handle on which a hand is housed, while the forearm is supported by a support arranged for this purpose. On the other hand, the tray can be attached to the support

fixed, forming a single element or portable, for which they have one or more suction cups or another type of fastening, such as magnets, anchors, etc., which securely adhere the joint between support and tray. '

The waiter's tray is an essential element in the hotel and restaurant industry. This part has been able to verify that there are many and varied on the market that differ in their forms and mode of use, but after an exhaustive search, none of the analyzed proposals solve, or even pose, the hygienic-sanitary problem associated with the use of the waiter's tray when serving food and drinks on a table.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The idea for the anti-pathogen tray with a support lid, arises from an awareness motivated by the sudden irruption of the COVID-19 virus in our lives and from the lessons and new needs that this fact has brought with it.

As soon as the scientific community and world health authorities become aware at the beginning of 2020 that humanity is facing an unprecedented pandemic, governments urgently and practically unanimously decree the confinement of the population and the paralysis of all activities that could contribute to the spread of the virus. The closure of bars, restaurants and establishments with public concurrence was one of the first restrictive measures adopted after the vulnerability of these activities to the virus was revealed as social distancing could not be guaranteed and the impossibility of adopting or implementing effective short-term hygienic-sanitary protection measures that ensure a safe development of activity in these sectors.

One of the great lessons learned during the period of confinement to which the population was subjected is that, to this day, social distancing and hygiene have been the only truly effective weapons against the spread of the coronavirus. This has been found not only in the case of COVID-19 but also with other more common and less lethal diseases such as influenza, whose incidence in the population has been substantially lower during confinement.

Faced with this new reality, many of the usual processes in the hospitality industry pose problems and raise many doubts in a population that is aware and fully informed about the transmission mechanisms of viruses and other pathogens.

One of these practices is the one that involves the transfer and service of drinks on an open tray, by a waiter without a mask or gloves, from a kitchen or a bar counter, equally unprotected from exposure to pathogens, to the table. where the customers are, crossing a room, which in many cases is crowded with people without masks that the waiters have to skilfully circumvent and at a short distance, to finally reach their destination and serve the drinks, one by one, using To do this, one hand, while holding the tray with the other, leaning over the table and violating all the recommendations regarding hygiene and distancing.

The design of the waiter's tray with an anti-pathogen carrying lid is a proposal that enables the action of serving a table, so common and necessary in the hospitality industry, to be carried out in a hygienically safe way by avoiding contamination of food and beverages during its transport in addition to promoting the necessary distance between the waiter and the customers when it is deposited or collected.

The operation of the invention is simple and intuitive and provides effective isolation of the food and beverages present on the tray throughout the entire journey from the point of preparation, which is presumed hygienically safe, to the customer's table without the waiter have to touch cups, glasses or plates and avoid exposing the content to any type of biological contamination that could come from contact or air.

Likewise and no less important is the fact that the invention allows the tray to be deposited and subsequently removed from the table without the waiter coming into contact with its contents at any time, thanks to the supporting lid that has a handle on its upper part and a simple anchoring system that allows the tray to be released or captured with a slight twist of the wrist and from a higher position, which also facilitates distance from customers.

The present invention is essentially a round waiter's tray with a rim equipped with slits on its outer perimeter that allow its capture and that works in necessary combination with a lid that has a double function as an anti-contamination element and as a support system when being It is equipped with a handle on its upper part and anchoring elements on its lower part that allow the capture or release of the tray by a slight turn of the wrist in one direction or another as well as its transport in a safe and comfortable way.

The design of the invention is linked to a specific form of use consisting of the placement of the drinks on the tray by the staff of the establishment in charge of preparing the orders, inside a bar or in a kitchen, in a properly environment protected. On the tray, the protection cover will be attached and anchored by means of a small twist that will then be collected by the waiter and transported to the table where the client is without having to open it at any time.

During the journey, the waiter may choose to carry the tray in the traditional way, hold it by the handle located at the top of the lid in suspended mode or a combination of both with the help of his other hand.

Once they have reached the table where the client is, the waiter will proceed to deposit, with his arm extended and in a position as upright as possible, the set formed by the lid and the tray, lowering it until it is placed on the table using to This is done by the handle on the top of the lid.

Once the tray rests on the table, the lid will descend a small additional distance until it rests on the table as well, at which point it will be free from contact with the anchoring elements of the tray and the lid can be rotated in the opposite direction to that of capture which will release it completely, being able to withdraw and leaving the tray uncovered with the drinks available to customers.

Once the drinks have been arranged by the customers themselves, the waiter will proceed to remove the empty tray, repeating the previous process in reverse and thus completing the operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, it has been represented the next:

Figures 1 and 2.- They show the whole tray and the anti-pathogen bearing cover from two different perspectives.

Figures 3 and 4 -Show details of the coupling, adjustment and anchoring system between the tray and the anti-pathogen bearing cover.

Figures 5 to 14.- Shows a series of illustrations that recreate the sequence of use of the tray with an anti-pathogen bearing cover.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a necessarily round waiter tray (1) that works in combination with a domed lid (2) equipped with a handle on its upper part (3) that performs a dual function as a protective barrier against pathogens and as a bearing element. by having the ability to attach and anchor to the tray through a simple wrist twist maneuver without the need for physical contact between the user and the tray (Figures 5 to 14).

The tray has a perimeter edge that delimits it (4) and that facilitates the coupling of the lid as well as slits in its contour-outer shelf (5) that allow anchoring between both elements.

The cover (2) performs a double function as an anti-contamination element and as a support system as it is equipped with a handle at its upper end (3) and anchoring elements in its lower part (6) that allow the transport of the set as well as the capture or release of the tray, by means of a slight twist of the wrist in one direction or the other, without the need for additional maneuvers (Figures 5 to14)

In its preferred embodiment, once the lid is attached to the tray, it will be rotated until both elements are adjusted (Figure 3), at which time the lid will be lowered until it rests on the support surface. This will make it possible to rotate by using the handle, thus completing the anchoring of the protection cover to the tray. (Figure 4)

This system allows the waiter to perform the service safely and comfortably without touching the tray and without exposing its content, whether food or beverages, to any type of contamination during the transfer of drinks from the point safe processing to the place where the customer is, (Figures 5 to 14)

In its preferred embodiment, both the tray and the lid will be light, resistant, stackable and suitable for industrial washing because it is an invention that can be applied in the hospitality industry.

Claims (1)

1.- The present invention comprises a round waiter's tray (1) that works in combination with a domed lid (2) with a handle on its upper part (3) that performs a double function as a protective barrier against pathogens and as a bearing element. by having the ability to attach and anchor to the tray through a simple wrist twist maneuver without the need for physical contact between the user and the tray (Figures 5 to 14). 2-The waiter's tray, according to the previous claim, must necessarily be round and will have a perimeter edge (4) in order to facilitate the coupling of the protection cover, as well as some slits or grooves in its contour-shelf exterior (5) that allow the anchoring of both elements. 3-The protective cover, according to claims 1 and 3, will have an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the rim of the tray (4), according to claim 2, to enable its coupling and will have a handle (3) as well as anchoring elements on the outer perimeter of its base (6) that allow its adjustment to the slits or grooves present in the tray (5) and its subsequent anchoring to it by means of a wrist turn (Figures 3 and 4).