GB2367233A

GB2367233A - Device for carrying food and drink

Info

Publication number: GB2367233A
Application number: GB0023840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Penelope Anne Gerrard; Jeffrey Hyman; Robert Anthony Marsh; Majorie Sanders
Original assignee: RHM TECH Ltd
Current assignee: RHM TECH Ltd
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2000-09-29
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Also published as: AU2001290151A1; GB0023840D0; WO2002026088A1

Abstract

A manually supportable device 103 for receiving receptacles for containing food or drink has a portal hole 207 allowing a user's thumb 206 to extend from a lower surface onto a curved portion 208 on the upper surface. Preferably the end of the user's thumb is received in a depression 209. The device may include recesses for food receptacles 201 and 202 and a cradle for a glass or cup. The cradle may have a feed in slot 203 and a curved slot 203 which provides a series of concentric circular recesses and grooves (601, fig 6). The device may be plastics and formed by injection or vacuum moulding or from metal by pressing. The portal hole may be at the centre of gravity, a raised patterned region (401, fig 4) may assist handling, and the device may be stackable. A spacing means (108, fig 7) may space the glass cradle above a planar surface on which the device is placed.

Description

Manually Supportable Device

Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a manually supportable device for receiving foodstuffs. For the purposes of this application foodstuffs shall be defined as comprising of food and/or drink. In particular, the present invention relates to a device which is manually supportable by one arm and the corresponding hand.

A number of situations exist where food and drink are to be consumed without the use of a dining table. This can lead to difficulties of, for example, holding a plate or dish of food and a drinking glass or cup, while trying to eat at the same time. This is particularly a problem where the food is to be consumed in the standing position, for example when having a buffet lunch.

2. Description of the Related Art A tray is disclosed in United States Patent 5,114, 038 which is capable of supporting food and drink receptacles, and which itself may be supported by one hand only, thus leaving the other hand free. A hole is provided in the tray to allow a user's thumb to pass through for gripping the tray. Fluting are present on the top side of the tray to improve slipresistance of the thumb.

Brief Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a

manually supportable device for carrying foodstuffs, wherein said device includes (a) a portal hole extending from a lower surface of said device to an upper surface of said device, and (b) an upwardly curving portion on said upper surface adjacent to said hole, and the device is configured to be supported by one of said user's arms and corresponding fingers while said user's corresponding thumb extends through said portal hole, over said upwardly curving portion and onto said upper surface, such that said upwardly curving portion extends into the arch formed by said user's thumb.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing manually supportable device for carrying foodstuffs, including the steps of (a) providing a portal hole extending from a lower surface of said device to an upper surface of said device, and (b) providing an upwardly curving portion on said upper surface adjacent to said hole, and (c) configuring the device such that it is supportable by one of said user's arms and corresponding fingers while said user's corresponding thumb extends through said portal hole, over said upwardly curving portion and onto said upper surface, and such that said upwardly curving portion extends into the arch formed by said user's thumb.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings Figure 1 shows two people enjoying a buffet lunch and both are carrying a tray that embodies the present invention; Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the tray 103 of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows plan view of the tray 103 being held by a user's arm and hand; Figure 4 shows a view of the lower surface of tray 103 and a user's

arm and hand ; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of tray 103 ; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the upper surface of the tray 103; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the stem guide of a part of tray 106 of Figure 1 ; Figure 8 shows the tray of Figure 7 supporting a coffee cup in place of the wine glass ; Figure 9 shows the tray of Figure 7 supporting a paper cup in place of the wine glass ; and Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the tray 103.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention An example of a situation where people are required to consume food and drink without the aid of a table is illustrated in Figure 1.

Two people 101 and 102 are shown in Figure 1 enjoying a buffet lunch and both are carrying a tray 103 and 104 respectively, which embodies the present invention. The tray 103 carries securely two bowls of food and a glass of wine. The tray 103 is held securely by the left hand and arm of person 101, leaving the right hand free for use in drinking and eating. The stem of the wine glass 105 is located within a slot in the tray which provides a glass stem guide, while the lower part of the bowl of said glass is located within a recessed region in the upper surface of said tray. Thus, the recessed region provides a cradle for the glass and supports the weight of the glass.

A third tray 106, of the same type as trays 103 and 104, is shown on a table 107 in Figure 1. The tray 105 is resting on a downwardly sloping apron 108 provided at the periphery of said tray. A stemmed wine glass 109

is located within the stem guide of tray 106, but the weight of glass 109 is supported by its foot resting on the table 107.

Due to the apron 108 supporting the tray, a portion of the tray which includes the cradle for the stemmed glass is supported above the table top and, moreover, it is held above the foot of the glass. This arrangement therefore prevents the tray 106 from resting on the foot of the glass, and thus making the trays position unstable.

The trays have a cut-away portion in their respective aprons to allow the trays to rest with more comfort and stability on the user's arm. Thus, a portion 110 of the apron on tray 104 has a reduced depth to provide a cutaway portion where the user's arm extends under the tray.

The portion 110 of the apron, which has a reduced depth, also enables the user to more easily withdraw his arm from under the tray when he puts it down on a table. Similarly, it also facilitates the user inserting his arm under the tray when lifting it from a table.

The trays 103,104 and 106 are all of the same design and such that they are configured to interface with similar trays on their upper and lower surfaces. In particular the upper surface of a tray is configured to interface with the lower surface of another tray. By this means, when the trays are not in use, they are stacked into a stable pile, that provides an economic use of space. A pile 111 of trays of the same design as tray 103 is shown on the table 107.

The tray 103 of Figure 1 is shown in the enlarged view of Figure 2.

The tray 103 supports two bowls of food 201 and 202, as well as the wine glass 105. The bowls of food are located within 30 mm deep recesses in the upper surface of the tray. By this means the bowls are securely located, since they are restrained from sliding around on the tray. The stem guide 203, in

the form of a slot in the tray, allows the wine glass 105 to be removed from its cradle 204.

The lower surface of the tray 103 rests on the lower part of the user's left arm 205 and the fingers of the left hand. However, stability is further provided to the tray by the user's left thumb 206 which extends up through a portal hole 207 in the tray and rests on the upper surface of the tray. An upwardly curving portion 208 of the tray extends up into the arch formed by the user's thumb and the end of the thumb rests in a depression 209 formed in the upper surface of the tray between a ridge 210 and the bowl of food 202. The manner in which the thumb and the fingers of the user interact with the tray provide it with enhanced stability, and this will be further described with reference to Figures 3,4 and 5.

A plan view of the tray 103 being held by the person 101 is shown in Figure 3. The glass and food receptacles have been removed from Figure 3 in order to simplify matters. The user's arm extends beneath the tray between the two recesses 307 and 308. In the present embodiment the shape of the recesses 307 and 308 are asymmetric and so bowls 201 and 202 are correspondingly asymmetrically configured to fit securely into the recesses. However, in an alternative embodiment the recesses are of a more regular shape, to allow bowls of a corresponding regular shape to be received. For example the recesses may be circular in order to receive circular bowls.

In the present embodiment the recesses 307 and 308 have a continuous bottom surface, for supporting the bowls 201 and 202. However, in an alternative embodiment the bottom surface is perforated to reduce the overall weight of the tray. And, in a further alternative embodiment the bottom surface of the recesses is absent. In which case, the bowls 201 and 202 extend through holes in the tray and are supported around their peripheries.

Therefore, the food receptacle receiving means of the tray are recessed areas in the present embodiment but other types are envisaged.

The tray is supported from below, on its lower surface by the user's arm 205, a part of the hand 301 at the base of the thumb and by the fingers 302 to 305. The user's arm supports the tray between the two recessed areas that receive the food bowls. In this way the weight of the food on the tray is distributed to provide balance and, therefore, stability to the tray.

As previously indicated, the thumb extends from the lower to the upper surface of the tray through a hole 207 and the end of the thumb 306 rests in a depression 209 between a ridge 210 and a recess 307 in the upper surface of the tray.

The lower surface of the tray is configured such that it follows the contours of the upper surface of the tray. Therefore, a portion of the lower surface has a convex curved shape in a corresponding location to the concave depression 209 that receives the thumb on the upper surface. Thus, the ends of fingers 302 to 305 are supporting a curved surface such that the fingers 305 and 302 are higher than fingers 303 and 304. If the fingers supported a planar surface their ability to resist lateral movement of the tray would depend on the frictional force between them and the lower surface of the tray. However, because the fingers rest on a curved surface, the frictional forces are assisted by forces acting normal to the surface of the tray. Thus, the stability of the tray is enhanced because the fingers support a convex curved surface.

In a similar manner, because the end of the thumb resides in a depression, the thumb is able to apply forces that are normal to the upper surface and which resist lateral movement of the tray. Therefore, the stability of the tray is enhanced because the end of the user's thumb presses onto a

concave curved surface.

Another feature of the tray which assists stability is that its centre of gravity 309 resides within the portal hole 207 for the thumb. The centres of gravity 310 and 311 of the food dishes 201 and 202 respectively, and the centre of gravity 312 of the drinking receptacle 105 are then arranged such that the centre of gravity of the fully loaded tray is close to the hole 207 and preferably above the user's arm. By this means, the stresses to the user's fingers are minimised.

The tray 103 is configured to be securely held by either the left or the right hand. Thus, the tray has a second depression 313, similar to the first depression 209, for use when the tray is held by the right hand. In addition, a convex portion of the lower surface of the tray, corresponding to the second depression, is configured in a similar manner to the respective convex portion that corresponds to the first depression.

In an alternative embodiment a device, similar to device 103 receives food directly into the recesses in the upper surface, rather than receiving food receptacles. This method of use has the advantage that the extra expense of bowls is saved and the user has less weight to carry. However, the preferred method of use allows the user to choose one food type from another by merely selecting the bowl of their choice and placing it in their tray. It also allows the user to switch food types by switching bowls.

In addition, if the device is used to receive food directly into the recesses in the upper surface, the material from which the device is manufactured is further limited by considerations of food contamination and hygiene.

A view from beneath the tray 103 is shown in Figure 4. As stated above the finger 302 to 305 support a convex curved portion of the lower

surface. This provides further stability to the tray but also allows the fingers to rest in a natural position. Therefore, the hand tends to become tired less quickly than if it supported a flat surface.

To further assist the fingers in providing stable support, a raised patterned region 401 is provided on a portion of the lower surface of the tray, such that the fingers of the left hand rest on the patterned region in use. The raised pattern provides a less slippery surface and so increases the fingers' grip. A second similar patterned region 402 is also provided for instances when the tray is held by the right hand.

As indicated above, the lower surface of the tray follows the contours of its upper surface. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, the outer surfaces of the recesses 307 and 308 appear as raised portions 403 and 404 respectively in the lower surface.

A cross-sectional side view of tray 103 is shown in Figure 5. The view is a section along the line A-A shown in Figure 3. The tray is supported from below by the arm 205 and fingers 501. In particular, the portion 110 of the apron rests on the forearm of the user, and the fingers support a convex portion of the lower surface. In addition, the portal hole has a downwardly extending wall 502, which rests on the user's hand at the base of the thumb.

The thumb 206 is shown extending upwards through portal hole 207, and over the upwardly curving portion 208 of the upper surface. Since the upwardly curving portion extends upwards into the arch formed by the thumb, the end of the thumb 306 is able to apply a force to the upwardly curving portion in a first direction indicated by arrow 503, while a lower part of the thumb 504 is able to apply a second force in a second direction to the upwardly curving portion, as indicated by arrow 505. Because the first and second directions are different, the thumb is able to grip the upwardly curving

portion. Therefore, due to the upwardly curving portion the tray is easily gripped and is therefore held securely. Furthermore, since the upwardly curving portion has a profile that follows the arch formed by the thumb, the thumb is able to grip the tray while maintaining a natural position, and, in addition, the area of contact between the user's thumb and the device is increased. By these means, the stresses to the thumb are minimised.

A plan view of the upper surface of the tray 103 is shown in Figure 6.

The curved slot 203 which provides the glass stem guide extends from the edge of the tray to the centre of a series of concentric circular recesses and grooves 601. As indicated earlier, a recessed dished shaped region provides a cradle 204 that allows the bowl of a stemmed glass to be supported. On a larger diameter and concentric to the cradle 204 there is provided an inner groove 602 that is configured to receive the rim at the bottom of a coffee cup. An outer groove 603 outside of groove 602 is also provided in the upper surface. Outer groove 603 is configured to receive the rim at the base of a paper cup. In an alternative embodiment, grooves are provided which are configured to receive paper cups of various sizes or, alternatively, plastic tumblers of various sizes.

A cross-sectional view of a part of tray 106 is shown in Figure 7. The line of cross-section passes along the stem guide and therefore surface 701 is the inner surface of the stem guide. The tray 106 and the stemmed wine glass 109 are both resting on the top of table 107. The tray's apron 108 ensures that the portion of the tray in the vicinity of the foot 702 of the glass is held above the foot.

When the tray 106 is lifted by a user, the cradle 204 rises up the stem of the glass until it contacts the bowl of the glass 703. The tray then lifts the glass with the bowl 703 resting in the cradle 204.

The tray shown in Figure 7 is shown in Figure 8 supporting a coffee cup in place of the wine glass. The coffee cup 801 has a circular rim 803 on its bottom and this is located into a circular groove 802 similar to inner groove 602. Circular groove 802 therefore locates the cup in a secure manner and provides a means to stop the cup from sliding on the tray.

The tray shown in Figure 7 is shown in Figure 9 supporting a paper cup 901 in place of the wine glass. A circular groove 903, similar to outer groove 603, provides a secure location for a rim 904 on the bottom of the paper cup, and therefore prevents the paper cup from sliding on the tray.

A perspective view of the tray 103 is shown in Figure 10. As is shown, the tray's form comprises of a large number of curves and ridges and it is this curvilinear form to the tray that provides it with a high degree of rigidity. In particular, the tray has a rigidity which is substantially larger than a flat tray made from corresponding material and of corresponding thickness.

The tray is formed by a process of injection moulding using a plastics material such as food grade polypropylene. Due to the rigidity provided by the curvilinear form of the tray, the thickness of the moulded tray may be made less than two millimetres. However, in order to provide the tray with the required opacity and also to avoid flow problems which occur with moulding of thinner sections, the thickness of the tray is at least 1.5 millimetres.

Therefore, in order to limit the weight of the tray and the cost of the plastics material, the thickness of moulded trays is maintained below four millimetres and preferably in the range 1.5 millimetres to 2.5 millimetres.

In an alternative embodiment the tray is formed from a sheet of plastics material such as ABS, by a process of vacuum forming.

In a further alternative embodiment the tray is formed from sheet metal by a pressing process. Preferably the metal is aluminium which is anodised or epoxy powder coated to provide a clean and chemically stable surface.

Claims

1. A manually supportable device for carrying foodstuffs, wherein said device includes (a) a portal hole extending from a lower surface of said device to an upper surface of said device, and (b) an upwardly curving portion on said upper surface adjacent to said hole, and the device is configured to be supported by one of said user's arms and corresponding fingers while said user's corresponding thumb extends through said portal hole, over said upwardly curving portion and onto said upper surface, such that said upwardly curving portion extends into the arch formed by said user's thumb.

2. A manually supportable device according to claim 1, wherein said device is configured to receive food and/or drink receptacles containing said foodstuffs.

3. A manually supportable device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in use said upwardly curving portion provides an enlarged area of contact between said device and said user's thumb.

4. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said upwardly curving portion allows said user's thumb to apply a first force to said upwardly curving portion in a first direction while allowing a lower part of said user's thumb to apply a second force to said

upwardly extending portion in a second direction different to said first direction.

5. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said device is configured to interface with similar devices on said upper and on said lower surface to allow a plurality of similar devices to be stacked.

6. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein upper surface includes at least one depression in said upper surface in the vicinity of said portal hole, said depression being configured to receive the end of said user's thumb.

7. A manually supportable device according to claim 6, wherein said lower surface has a convex portion in a corresponding location to said depression.

8. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said device includes a plurality of receiving means, and each said receiving means is configured to receive a food or drink receptacle.

9. A manually supportable device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said receiving means is a recessed area configured to receive a food receptacle.

10. A manually supportable device according to claim 9, wherein at least two of said receiving means is a recessed area and said recessed

areas are located such that in use said user's arm is located in between two of said recessed areas.

11. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein one of said receiving means is a drinks receiving means comprising of a plurality of grooves to allow said drinks receiving means to accommodate a plurality of different sizes of drinking receptacles.

12. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein one of said receiving means is a drinks receiving means comprising of a plurality of grooves to allow said drinks receiving means to accommodate a plurality of different types of drinking receptacles.

13. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said device includes a glass cradle configured to accommodate the bowl of a stemmed glass and a slot extending from an edge of said device to said cradle.

14. A manually supportable device according to claim 13, wherein said device has a spacing means such that when said device is supported on a planar surface by said spacing means said cradle is held above said planar surface.

15. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein said device is manufactured from a plastics material by injection moulding.

16. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein said device is manufactured by vacuum forming a sheet of plastics material.

17. A manually supportable device according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein said device is manufactured from a pressed metal sheet.

18. A manually supportable device according to claim 17, wherein said metal is aluminium.

19. A method of manufacturing manually supportable device for carrying foodstuffs, including the steps of (a) providing a portal hole extending from a lower surface of said device to an upper surface of said device, and (b) providing an upwardly curving portion on said upper surface adjacent to said hole, and (c) configuring the device such that it is supportable by one of said user's arms and corresponding fingers while said user's corresponding thumb extends through said portal hole, over said upwardly curving portion and onto said upper surface, and such that said upwardly curving portion extends into the arch formed by said user's thumb.

20. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to claim 19, wherein said device is configured to receive food and/or drink receptacles containing said foodstuffs.

21. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device

according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein in use said upwardly curving portion provides an enlarged area of contact between said device and said user's thumb.

22. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein said upwardly curving portion allows said user's thumb to apply a first force to said upwardly curving portion in a first direction while allowing a lower part of said user's thumb to apply a second force to said upwardly extending portion in a second direction different to said first direction.

23. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein said device is configured to interface with similar devices on said upper and on said lower surface to allow a plurality of similar devices to be stacked.

24. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 23, including the step of providing at least one depression in said upper surface in the vicinity of said portal hole, said depression being configured to receive the end of said user's thumb.

25. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to claim 24, including the step of providing said lower surface with a convex portion in a corresponding location to said depression.

26. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 26, wherein a plurality of receiving means

are included on said device, and each said receiving means is configured to receive a food or drink receptacle.

27. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to claim 26, wherein at least one of said receiving means is configured as a recessed area to receive a food receptacle.

28. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to claim 27, wherein at least two of said receiving means are configured as recessed areas and said recessed areas are located such that in use said user's arm is located in between two of said recessed areas.

29. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 26 to 28, wherein one of said receiving means is configured to be a drinks receiving means comprising of a plurality of grooves to allow said drinks receiving means to accommodate a plurality of different sizes of drinking receptacles.

30. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 26 to 29, wherein one of said receiving means is configured to be a drinks receiving means comprising of a plurality of grooves to allow said drinks receiving means to accommodate a plurality of different types of drinking receptacles.

31. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 30, including the steps of

providing a glass cradle on said device configured to accommodate the bowl of a stemmed glass, and providing a slot extending from an edge of said device to said cradle.

32. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to claim 31, including the steps of providing a spacing means on said device such that when said device is supported on a planar surface by said spacing means said cradle is held above said planar surface.

33. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 32, wherein said device is formed from a plastics material by injection moulding.

34. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 32, wherein said device is vacuum formed from a sheet of plastics material.

35. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to any of claims 19 to 32, wherein said device is formed from a pressed metal sheet.

36. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device according to claim 35, wherein said metal is aluminium.

37. A manually supportable device for carrying foodstuffs substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying Figures.

38. A method of manufacturing a manually supportable device for carrying foodstuffs substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying Figures.