FR3106737A1 - Serving tray and set comprising such a serving tray - Google Patents

Abstract

Service tray (1) comprising a tray body (2) comprising a tray bottom (3) with a face (4) of the load-carrying top and an opposite face (5) of the underside, a base (6) arranged on the side face (5) of the underside of the top (3) of the top, this base (6) comprising a skirt (7) at least partially surrounding the bottom (3) of the top and defining, with the body (2) of the top, a space (8) lower open in the configuration of use of the plate (1), said skirt (7) being interrupted to delimit an open perimeter, the interruption forming an access opening (9), the plate (1) comprises at least an electric display screen (10) arranged at the level of the skirt (7), a rechargeable battery (11) and a device (12) for on / off control of the or each electric display screen (10) the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Serving tray and assembly comprising such a serving tray

The invention relates to a service tray and an assembly comprising such a service tray and a data radio transmitter associated with a computer system.

It relates more particularly to a service tray comprising a tray body comprising a tray bottom with a face called the load-carrying top capable of receiving the objects to be supported and/or transported using said service tray and a face opposite bottom, a base arranged on the face side of the bottom of the tray bottom, this base, through which the tray body is able to rest on a flat surface, comprising a skirt at least partially surrounding the bottom of the tray and defining , with the body of the tray, an open space, called lower, located at least partially below the bottom of the tray and inside the perimeter defined by the skirt in load-carrying use configuration of the service tray, said skirt being interrupted to delimit an open perimeter, the interruption forming an access opening capable of allowing entry of the hand and part of the arm of the carrier of the service tray inside said lower space, including included in the installed state of the service tray, for positioning the palm of the hand applied to the bottom of the tray.

Such serving trays, widely used, in particular by coffee or fast food servers, are well known to those versed in this art.

These service trays are frequently used as a communication medium. However, the information, and in particular the advertising, are generally affixed to the bottom of the service tray, this bottom corresponding to the zone for receiving the objects to be supported and/or transported using said service tray, so that this information is not visible during the use phase of the service tray. Moreover, the current design of information media makes it difficult to renew information and requires tedious handling. The same applies when an absence of display is desired.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a service tray whose design makes it easy to modify the content displayed without affecting the ease of use of said service tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service tray whose design allows display on demand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service tray whose design allows the control of several information media.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a service tray comprising a tray body comprising a tray bottom with a so-called load-carrying top face capable of receiving the objects to be supported and/or transported using said service tray and an opposite bottom face, a base arranged on the bottom face side of the bottom of the tray, this base, through which the body of the tray is adapted to rest on a flat surface, comprising a skirt surrounding at least partially the bottom of the tray and defining, with the body of the tray, an open space, called lower, located at least partially below the bottom of the tray and inside the perimeter defined by the skirt in the carrier-use configuration load of the service tray, said skirt being interrupted to delimit an open perimeter, the interruption forming an access opening able to allow the entry of the hand and part of the arm of the carrier of the service tray to the interior of said lower space, including in the laid down state of the service tray, for positioning the palm of the hand against the bottom of the tray, characterized in that the service tray comprises one or more electric screens of display arranged at the level of the skirt, at least one rechargeable battery for supplying electricity to the or each electric display screen and at least one on/off control device for the or each electric display screen.

By electric display screen, we mean any display screen running on electricity. The presence of at least one on/off control device for each electric display screen allows temporary display without the need for dismantling. The possibility of a plurality of screens allows a distribution of a plurality of content and/or the possibility of dedicating certain screens to specific functions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the electric display screens extends at least partially opposite the access opening made in the skirt. The or each electric display screen is configured so that, in the load-carrying configuration of use of the service tray, it can be viewed by an observer positioned around the service tray at a predetermined location around said service tray. It should be noted that the term “load-carrying use configuration of the service tray” means the configuration of the service tray in which the bottom of the body of the tray extends substantially horizontally with the open space, said lower, being at least partially below the bottom of the tray and inside the perimeter defined by the skirt. The top face of the bottom of the tray body can, in this configuration, receive loads.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the skirt has the general shape of an arc of a circle and the electric display screen or screens extend over at least a quarter, preferably at least half, of the angular sector formed by said bow. This results in the possibility of allowing several observers arranged around the service tray in different locations to view at least one electric display screen.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the service tray being virtually divisible into two halves by a diametral plane, the battery or batteries and the access opening made in the skirt are arranged on the same side of said plan. The batteries can thus be used as a counterweight in relation to the weight of the screens to limit excessive fatigue of the server's arm or an imbalance of the service tray. Generally, in the case of several batteries, these are arranged on either side of the access opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the skirt comprises one or more windows arranged juxtaposed in the load-carrying use configuration of the service tray and the or each electric display screen is inserted in a window forming a frame. Thanks to this arrangement, the parallel distribution of different contents is easy. It is also possible to use straight screens rather than curved screens.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the windows of the skirt is closed by an attached transparent protective element arranged facing the display surface of said electric display screen. This design protects the screen from shocks in particular.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each electric display screen is attached to the skirt and fixed, preferably in a removable manner, to the skirt. This results in the possibility of easily changing one of the screens if necessary.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the service tray comprises a control unit configured at least to receive and/or read data and to control the display of said data on the electric display screen(s). The display can thus be diverse and varied. This display can either be in the form of fixed or moving images. Electric display screens can operate synchronously or not. Electric display screens can display the same content or different content from one screen to another.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises at least one radio data receiver configured at least to allow communication by radio waves. The presence of a radio receiver can allow communication by radio waves with a radio data transmitter. This communication can be carried out using a communication protocol preferably of the Bluetooth or WIFI type.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said service tray comprises a speech recognition device comprising at least one microphone. The speech recognition device can allow the execution of a voice command or the specific display of data such as a bill ticket.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said service tray comprises an on-board contactless payment terminal.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly comprising a service tray and a radio data transmitter associated with a computer system, characterized in that the service tray is of the aforementioned type and comprises at least one radio data receiver. The service tray data radio receiver is configured at least to allow communication by radio waves with the data radio transmitter associated with the computer system. It is thus possible when the computer system is a portable terminal, in this case a telephone, to download a specific application for managing the display of the electrical display screens in a memory of the telephone and to control each electrical screen of display from said application.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

shows a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention;

shows a perspective view of a serving tray;

shows a perspective view of a window of the skirt and of an electric display screen with its protection elements capable of being inserted into said window.

As mentioned above, the service tray1 comprises a tray body2 comprising a tray bottom3 with a face4 called the load-carrying top capable of receiving the objects to be supported or transported using the service tray1, and a opposite bottom face5.

In the examples shown, the body 2 of the tray further comprises a side wall projecting from the bottom of the tray and comprising an outer peripheral wing.

The bottom3 of the service tray1 and the side wall delimit an open space, called upper, because it is above the bottom3 of the tray and inside the perimeter of the side wall, in the configuration of use of the service tray1 , that is to say with the fond3 of the tray extending substantially horizontally. This upper space or useful space is suitable for receiving objects such as glasses or bottles, to be supported and/or transported, using said service tray1.

The side wall includes a portion forming a raised edge or rim of the service tray. This rim is extended by an external peripheral wing which extends over the entire circumference of the body2 of the service tray1. This external peripheral wing extends parallel to the bottom3 of the plate.

The bottom3 of the service tray1 has a bottom face5 opposite to the bottom face4 of the tray load carrier. A base6 is arranged on the face5 side of the underside of the bottom3 of the tray. This base6 is, in the laid state of the service tray1 on a flat horizontal surface, interposed between said surface and the bottom3 of the tray. This base6 comprises a skirt7 at least partially surrounding the bottom3 of the top and defining, with the body2 of the top, an open space8 called lower, located at least partially below the bottom3 of the top and inside the perimeter defined by the skirt7 in load-bearing usage configuration of the service tray1.

This skirt7 is interrupted to delimit an open perimeter. The interruption of the skirt7 forms an access opening9 suitable for allowing the entry of the hand and part of the arm of the carrier of the service tray1 inside said lower space8, including in the installed state of the serving tray1, for positioning the palm of the hand on the bottom3 of the tray.

Generally, the access opening9 has a height at least equal to 5cm and a length at least equal to a quarter of the perimeter of the plate.

Thanks to this access opening9, the use of such a service tray1 remains unchanged for the wearer of said service tray1.

Characteristically to the invention, the service tray1 comprises one or more electrical display screens10 arranged at the level of the skirt7.

This service tray 1 also comprises at least one rechargeable battery 11 for supplying electricity to the or each electric display screen 10 and at least one on/off control device 12 for the or each electric display screen 10 .

Generally, the skirt 7 has the general shape of an arc of a circle and the electric display screen(s) 10 extend over at least a quarter, preferably at least half of the angular sector formed by said arc.

In the example shown, the electric display screens10 extend over almost the entire arc of a circle formed by the skirt7. Each electric display screen can be a plasma screen or a light-emitting diode screen.

In the example represented, each display screen 10 is a backlit screen with light-emitting diodes.

The electrical display screens 10 are arranged side by side from one of the ends of the skirt which materializes one of the edges of the access opening 9 in the direction of the opposite end of the skirt which materializes an opposite edge of said access opening9.

The display surfaces of the electric display screens10 are turned towards the outside of the tray, so as to be able to be seen by an observer placed around the service tray1. At least one of the electrical display screens10 extends at least partially opposite the access opening9 made in the skirt7.

In the examples shown, the service tray1 comprises several electric display screens10 arranged side by side. Of course, a single, very long electric display screen could have been provided.

Electric display screens10 are flexible or rigid screens.

In the examples shown, the skirt7 comprises several windows13 arranged in a juxtaposed manner, that is to say side by side from one of the ends of the skirt which materializes one of the edges of the access opening9 in the direction from the opposite end of the skirt which materializes an opposite edge of said access opening9, in the load-carrying use configuration of the service tray1, and each electrical display screen10 can be inserted into a window13 forming a frame.

The detail of a frame is provided in Figure 3. This frame includes two vertical edges that form the uprights of the frame. These frame uprights are grooved. In fact, preferably, each window 13 housing an electric display screen 10 is closed by a protective element 14, transparent, attached, arranged opposite the display surface of the electric display screen 10. This transparent protective element 14, which can be in the form of a transparent flexible sheet, for example made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), is inserted into the grooves facing the uprights of the frame, to hold it in position.

A similar protective element 14' can be provided to close the window, back side of the electric display screen 10. Generally, this 14’ protective element is opaque.

Crossing holes are also made in the uprights of the frame, for the passage of electrical cables, which allow the electrical connection of the electrical display screens10 to the battery(ies)11 fitted to the service tray1.

The realization of the skirt7 in the form of a succession of juxtaposed windows allows the use of electric display screens10 which are not necessarily curved or flexible.

In the examples shown, each electric display screen10 is attached to the skirt7 and fixed to the skirt7. This mounting on the skirt7 can be done in a removable or non-removable way.

Similarly, the skirt 7 can be attached to the body 2 of the tray and fixed removably or not to the body 2 of the tray.

Generally, the fixing of the skirt7 to the body2 of the plate takes place at the level of the outer peripheral wing of the side wall of the body2 of the plate, so that the skirt7 extends at least partially in line with the side wall of the tray body2, in the laid state of the service tray2 on a flat surface.

Indeed, as mentioned above, in the examples shown, the constituent frame of each window has two uprights connected to each other by an upper crosspiece and a lower crosspiece.

This frame comprises, along its upper crosspiece connecting the two uprights, a U-shaped housing inside which the outer peripheral wing of the side wall of the body 2 of the tray is adapted to be inserted at least partially for a grip. sandwich or vice of the wing of the side wall between the walls of the housing, that is to say between the branches of the U.

The frame can be held in this position by riveting or other means.

Each frame can thus be fixed individually to the plateau body2. The uprights of the frames can be provided with additional through holes for the passage of screws connecting the frame to an adjacent frame.

The assembly of the skirt incorporating display screens10 therefore makes it possible to operate easily by integrating a screen in each frame to receive such a screen and fixing the frame to the body2 of the tray.

Alternatively, the skirt7 can be made in one piece with the top body2. In this case, the insertion of the electric display screen(s)10 into the window(s) of the skirt7 provided for this purpose takes place in the arranged state of the skirt7 on the body2 of the tray.

To allow a balanced distribution of the weight of the various constituent elements of the service tray1, the bottom3 of the service tray1 is virtually divisible into two halves by a median diametral plane and the battery(ies)11 and the access opening9 provided in the skirt7 are arranged on the same side of said plane.

In practice, the battery(ies)11 are generally placed near the access opening9 made in the skirt7. If necessary, an additional counterweight22 can be integrated into the service tray1 to counterbalance the weight of the electric display screens10.

The battery or batteries 11 are rechargeable batteries. Recharging can be done either by connection to an electrical source or by induction.

To allow management of the display provided by the electric display screens 10, the service tray 1 comprises a control unit 15 configured at least to receive and/or read data and to control the display of said data on the screen(s) 10 display electrics.

Said control unit is in the form of an electronic and computer system which comprises for example a microprocessor and a working memory. According to a particular aspect, the control unit can take the form of a programmable automaton.

That is, the described functions and steps can be implemented as a computer program or via hardware components (eg programmable gate arrays). In particular, the functions and steps operated by the control unit or its modules can be performed by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller or be performed by dedicated electronic components or components of the FPGA type or ASIC. It is also possible to combine computer parts and electronic parts.

When it is specified that the unit or means or modules of said unit are configured to carry out a given operation, this means that the unit comprises computer instructions and the corresponding means of execution which make it possible to carry out said operation and/ or that the unit includes corresponding electronic components.

The control unit 15 includes data communication means. For this purpose, the control unit 15 may comprise a connection interface such as a USB port allowing data transfer to the control unit 15 in the connected state of said interface with a removable memory, such as a USB key, computer or other. In this case, the transfer of data to the control unit can be done by wired connection.

As a variant or in addition, the control unit 15 can comprise at least one radio data receiver 16 configured at least to allow communication by radio waves with a remote radio data transmitter 20 .

The communication is therefore a wireless communication and the communication protocol between the radio receiver16 of the service tray1 and a remote data radio transmitter20 can be carried out according to a communication protocol, preferably of the Bluetooth or wifi type.

Preferably, the radio receiver 16 equipping the service tray 1 and functionally connected to the rest of the control unit is a transmitter/receiver to also allow transmission by wireless data link to a remote receiver.

The remote data radio transmitter20 is associated with a computer system21, to form with said service tray1 a set.

This computer system21 may comprise a display screen, a processor (for example a microprocessor), a computer application executable by the processor and a data storage memory for storing, in the memory, data to be transmitted to the radio receiver16. and corresponding to the data to be displayed on the electric display screen(s).

In the example represented, the computer system is a portable terminal, in this case a telephone, and the computer application is installed in a memory of the telephone. Alternatively, the computer system may take the form of a computer.

The computer system may also include a man-machine interface allowing data entry and/or on-screen clocking.

Each electrical display screen10 may include an identifying code.

The computer application is configured to select content to be displayed and an electric display screen 10 on which the selected content is to be displayed and control the transmission of said content via the service tray 1 control unit.

The detail of this control will not be described, since the control of content to be displayed on display screens is well known to those skilled in this art.

The images displayed on the display screens10 can be fixed or mobile.

The control unit 15 can be configured to control synchronous operation of said electric display screens 10 .

The electric display screens10 can display the same content or different content from one electric display screen10 to another.

Content selection can be done using the computer system. As a variant or in addition, there may be provided a member, such as a button, for selecting the content to be displayed on the service tray 1 and allowing a selection of the content to be displayed from among the plurality of contents to be displayed addressed to the unit 15 control and stored in said control unit.

The service tray 1 also includes, as mentioned above, an on/off control device 12 for each electric display screen 10, to allow all of the electric display screens 10 to be switched off and to limit electricity consumption.

This on/off control device12 can be formed by a simple two-position switch, common to all the electrical display screens10 fitted to the service tray1. As a variant, selective on/off control of each electric display screen can be envisaged. Such an on/off control device 12 also makes it possible to limit the heat given off by said screens.

In the examples shown, the plate is a standard plate with a diameter of 45 centimeters. The digital band formed by the skirt includes the serial association of seven screens covering a viewing circumference of 225°. The dimension of each screen inserted in a window forming a frame is: length x height x thickness = 12.7cm x 6.5cm x 0.2cm. As a variant, a flexible screen could have been envisaged in a single piece, covering a viewing circumference of 225°. In this case, the screen dimension could be: length x height x thickness = 82cm x 6.5cm x 0.2cm. Such a digital banner makes it possible to broadcast a single image in extended display on the screens or a differentiated image on each screen or the same image on each screen.

To complete the set, the service tray1 includes a speech recognition device17 comprising at least one microphone18. Such a speech recognition device, known per se, can comprise a computer program allowing a transcription of the sounds received into data that can be displayed on the electric display screen(s) 10 or into data to be transferred to the remote computer system 21 .

It is thus possible, from the sounds, to display the order taken by the waiter, that is to say the user of the service tray1 on one of the electric display screens10 or to transfer this order to the remote computer system for preparing said order.

Finally, the service tray1 may comprise an on-board contactless payment terminal19.

Claims (12)

Service tray (1) comprising a tray body (2) comprising a tray bottom (3) with a face (4) called the load-carrying top capable of receiving the objects to be supported and/or transported using said service tray (1) and an opposite bottom face (5), a base (6) arranged on the side of the bottom face (5) of the bottom (3) of the tray, this base (6), by means of which the tray body (2) is adapted to rest on a flat surface, comprising a skirt (7) at least partially surrounding the bottom (3) of the tray and defining, with the tray body (2), an open space (8) , called lower, lying at least partially below the bottom (3) of the tray and inside the perimeter defined by the skirt (7) in load-carrying use configuration of the service tray (1), said skirt (7) being interrupted to delimit an open perimeter, the interruption forming an access opening (9) capable of allowing entry of the hand and part of the arm of the carrier of the service tray (1) to inside the said lower space (8), including in the laid down state of the service tray (1), for positioning the palm of the hand against the bottom (3) of the tray, characterized in that the service tray (1) comprises one or more electric display screens (10) arranged at the level of the skirt (7), at least one rechargeable battery (11) for supplying electricity to the or each electric screen (10) display and at least one on/off control device (12) of the or each electric display screen (10). Service tray (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the or at least one of the electrical display screens (10) extends at least partially opposite the access opening (9) provided in the skirt (7). Service tray (1) according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the skirt (7) has the general shape of an arc of a circle and in that the electric display screen or screens (10) are extend over at least a quarter, preferably at least half, of the angular sector formed by said arc. Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (3) of the service tray (1) being virtually divisible into two halves by a diametral plane, the battery(ies) (11) and the access opening (9) formed in the skirt (7) are arranged on the same side of said plane. Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skirt (7) comprises one or more windows (13) arranged juxtaposed in the load-carrying use configuration of the service tray (1) and in that the or each electric display screen (10) is inserted in a window (13) forming a frame. Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or at least one of the windows (13) of the skirt (7) is closed by an added transparent protective element (14) arranged in next to the display surface of said electric display screen (10). Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each electrical display screen (10) is attached to the skirt (7) and fixed, preferably in a removable manner, to the skirt (7) . Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service tray (1) comprises a control unit (15) configured at least to receive and/or read data and to control the display of said data on the electric display screen(s) (10). Service tray (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (15) comprises at least one radio data receiver (16) configured at least to allow communication by radio waves. Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said service tray (1) comprises a speech recognition device (17) comprising at least one microphone (18). Service tray (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said service tray (1) comprises an on-board contactless payment terminal (19). Assembly comprising a service tray (1) and a radio data transmitter (20) associated with a computer system (21), characterized in that the service tray (1) complies with claim 9, and in that the data radio receiver (16) of the service tray (1) is configured at least to allow communication by radio waves with the data radio transmitter (20) associated with the computer system (21).