FR2838317A1 - Washable, re-usable tray for buffets has slanting thumbhole near one edge, allowing it to be held with one hand, circular aperture for plastic glass and small circular depression which holds plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The washable and re-usable tray for buffets has a slanting thumbhole (1) near one edge, allowing it to be held with one hand. A circular aperture (2) allows a plastic glass to be inserted and a small circular depression (3) holds a plate.

Description

The present invention relates to a meal tray. The idea is to be able

  hold with one hand a tray on which is all the necessary to take a normal meal, thus leaving the second hand completely free of its movements (to eat, shake hands, telephone, ....) The tray therefore supports both a disposable plate and a goblet (both

  plastic or cardboard), cutlery and a piece of bread.

  This type of product is intended for all people who organize a meal for many guests, during receptions, housewarming parties and other various receptions, both in apartment and outside, from the moment the number of guests is such that it is impossible to sit all around a table, or to allow people to move around to promote meetings, visit an exhibition, attend an opening. s 11 therefore allows you to eat standing up normal meal, while it is almost impossible without this tray to hold in the hands at the same time a disposable plate which is deformed, a

  plastic glass and eat with cutlery.

  This concept is declined in 2 types of trays: a meal tray designed to take a normal meal with a plastic cup, and a cocktail tray, of more dimensions

  small, designed to receive a champagne flute.

  This tray can be placed on a table to continue your meal: the glass is released

  from its hole, resting directly on the table.

  This reusable tray, flat and preferably rectangular to facilitate

  stacking, is light (plastic, composite, ...) and easily washable.

  As an indication, the approximate size of the meal tray can be 29 x 35 cm for a

  thickness from 3 to 5 mm. It is rounded at the 4 corners and its edges are also rounded.

  All these values or forms can obviously be modified in order to optimize the trays according to the clientele (classic or more luxurious meal, cocktail type with

  champagne glass), users (adult or child) or fashion.

  The tray has 2 holes: an orifice for gripping the tray (see Figure 1,

  item 1) and an opening to hold the cup or the flask (2).

  At the hole for gripping the tray (1) is located in the lower left corner for right-handers. Oblong in shape and 40 mm in diameter at the ends, it is oriented in the diagonal direction of the plate. Its edges are rounded, - 2 mainly at the two ends and this orifice thus conforms perfectly to the shape of the thumb. s The tray is carried by passing the thumb from bottom to top through the hole, while the other fingers spread out in a fan under the tray then allow

  support the assembly (see figure 2).

  Thanks to the perfectly symmetrical oblong shape of the opening (1) for the thumb, the tray is perfectly reversible right-handed / left-handed. So, for left-handers, it is enough

  o turn the tray over: the hole (1) is thus found in the lower right corner.

  At the hole for the cup (2), circular in shape with a diameter of 55 mm (40 mm for the cocktail tray), is intended to receive any disposable cup, plastic or cardboard, or glass base (wine glass or champagne flute). This orifice is located

  both close to the gripping hole and close to the side edge of the tray.

  The cup is positioned at mid-height in this orifice.

  This opening can be opened on the side (Figure 3, item 4), by a cut of about mm wide to let the stem of wine glasses or flutes pass. This

  opening is tilted towards the free hand, to facilitate movement of the arm.

  o A very slight recess (Figure 1, item 3), circular or not, in the thickness of the plate can be made to maintain the plate. This cavity can then receive these printed papers for the menu, advertising, tourist information,

  Similarly, a similar recess can be made for the cutlery.

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Claims (7)

  1. Reusable and light reusable meal or cocktail tray, able to support both a plate, a cup, cutlery and a piece of bread, characterized in that it has an oblong opening (1), at the ends and rounded edges, ergonomic for positioning the thumb and located in the lower left corner for right-handers and intended for gripping the plate by the passage of the thumb from bottom to top, the port being carried out by the other fingers spread out in a fan under the tray, 2. Tray according to claim 1 characterized by an oblong and symmetrical shape of the orifice for the thumb, which makes the tray perfectly reversible right-handed / left-handed by turning,   3. Tray according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized by a circular orifice (2)   located near the grip orifice and the side edge and intended to receive any goblet, stemware or champagne flute made of plastic or cardboard which comes to position halfway up in this orifice: 4. Tray according to claim 3 characterized in that the hole (4) for the glass has an opening on the outside to allow the passage of the foot of a glass to: foot or flute ,: ::   5. Tray according to one of the preceding claims characterized by a shape   o flat exterior, allowing easy stacking and storage, :: -   6. Tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with:   a recess in the thickness to hold the plate (and the cutlery): 7. Tray according to claim 6, characterized in that the recess can receive