GB2345436A

GB2345436A - Tray for supporting drinks on a bar counter

Info

Publication number: GB2345436A
Application number: GB9900377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terry Holloway
Original assignee: STANDARD CO Ltd AG
Current assignee: STANDARD CO Ltd AG
Priority date: 1999-01-09
Filing date: 1999-01-09
Publication date: 2000-07-12
Also published as: GB9900377D0

Abstract

Bar or counter apparatus comprises a tray having a recess (4) and an absorbent mat (2) removably mounted within the recess. The apparatus acts as a drip tray for drinks stood on it. The mat may be retained by projections (6) from the sidewall (3) of the tray, but removable by pushing a finger through apertures (5) in the base of the tray. The mat may be shallower than the recess (4) and include textual and/or graphic matter.

Description

COUNTER TRAY This invention relates to a counter tray. In particular, it relates to a counter tray for bars.

It is common for a bar where drinks are dispensed to be provided with drip mats or counter trays.

Drip mats or bar towels are simply sheets of absorbent material which are laid upon the bar and upon which a freshly dispensed drink is laid to absorb any sillage caused by overfill, etc. These soon become saturated and look dirty and untidy and must be frequently replaced.

Counter trays generally incorporate a tray having a well, and a grid mounted over the well. The drink is placed on top of the grid such that any pillage passes through the grid into the well. These require fairly frequently emptying and cleaning and are not particularly attractive.

According to the present invention there is provided bar or counter apparatus comprising a tray having a recess and an absorbent mat removably mounted within the recess.

The absorbent mat is preferably provided with a printed, or otherwise attached, pattern, logo, text, etc, so that it can act as an advertising medium. This may be provided on one or both sides of the mat. The mat is removable from the tray such that whenever desired the mat can be removed and cleaned or replaced, perhaps with one bearing different images or text The tray is preferably provided with means for facilitating removal of the mat.

These may comprise one or more apertures on a side or the underside of the tray facilitating manual manipulation to remove the mat.

The mat is preferably of absorbent fibre board, plastics material, cork, cellulosic material or other material or construction.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a removable absorbent mat; Figure 2 shows a tray for receiving the mat; and Figure 3 shows a plan view of the tray.

The figures show a counter tray assembly for use on a bar where drinks are dispensed. The assembly comprises a tray 1 which receives a removable/replaceable absorbent mat or insert 2. The tray I may be of a moulded plastics material and incorporates a raised peripheral portion 3 defining a generally rectangular recess 4 in which the absorbent mat 2 is received. As shown, the side walls of the tray generally taper outwards to provide a very stable and attractive design. The internal edges of the raised peripheral part 3 are generally vertical. One or more lugs, barbs, pips, beads or other inwardly-directed protrusions as grip-aiding means may be provided along the internal edges; a plurality of pips 6 are shown schematically in Figure 3. Alternatively, the mat may have one or more outwardly directed projections, etc.

The tray is also provided with means for enabling easy removal of a mat and in some embodiments these comprise one or more apertures. The embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3 includes two apertures formed at respective opposed edges of the recess part 4. The apertures 5 are of sufficient size to enable a finger to be pushed through them, from the underside of the tray, so that the fingers then pushes upwards upon an inserted mat to remove the mat from recess 4. In other embodiments, only one aperture or more than two apertures may be provided. Other means to facilitate removal of a mat may be provided additionally or alternatively and these may include apertures or other means on the side walls of the tray, various pushing or levering mechanisms or other means. The grip-aiding means may be circumferential or part-circumferential beads in some embodiments.

The absorbent mat 2 is of dimensions which enable it to fit snugly within the recess 4. It is made of an absorbent or semi-absorbent material such as absorbent fibre board or other fibrous material. It may be of cork, wood or cellulose based materials or other materials and is preferably printed or otherwise provided on one or both sides with desired logos, patterns, wording, etc.

In use, the tray is placed at a desired location on a bar and a first absorbent mat is placed within the tray and pushed fully in. The gripping means 6 helps to ensure the mat is properly secured and/or located within the tray. Freshly dispensed drinks, typically beer or lager type drinks in which overflow or pillage is common, are placed initially upon the mat for collection by the consumer. After a while, the mat will become saturated or too wet or dirty for further use. At this point, the mat is simply removed and replaced by another one.

The mats may be cleaned and reused or may be simply disposed of.

Most preferably, the height of the side walls of the tray above the recess is greater than the depth of the mat. Accordingly, when the mat is fully inserted into the recess, there is a slight lip remaining above the mat, formed by the edge of the tray. This is desirable so that when a drink is slid across the mat, it cannot simply slide off the edge but instead is restrained by the upstanding lip. In one embodiment, the height of the top of the tray above the recess is 2.4 mm whereas the depth of the mat is 2.2 mm.

The tray may alternatively be of metal, for example formed by pressing or diecasting, or may be of any other suitable material. The grip-aiding means may be formed integrally with the tray or may be separate items which are attached to the tray.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Bar or counter apparatus comprising a tray having a recess and an absorbent mat removably mounted within the recess.
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mat has a depth less than that of the recess.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the mat includes textual and/or graphic matter.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tray includes means facilitating removal of a mat.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the removal-facilitating means comprises one or more apertures in the underside or side of the tray.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including gripper means for aiding the location and/or securing of the mat within the tray recess.
7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the gripper means comprises one or more lugs, projections, barbs, pips or beads inwardly directed on one or more side walls of the recess.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of mats, one of the mats being mounted at any time in the tray.
9. Bar or counter apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.