GB2404569A - Meal tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A meal tray, preferably designed for children, having a generally planar major surface 11 with at least one recess 12a, 12b for receiving a foodstuff. The recess projects in a first direction away from the major surface. The tray further comprises a further receptacle 14,18 for a foodstuff which extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction away from the major surface. Preferably, there are a plurality of recesses of differing shapes and sizes and a plurality of further receptacles. The tray may carry decoration and indicia representing questions and/or instructions. Recesses or receptacles may have lids 18a. There may be retaining means such as spring fingers for additional items such as a cup 17 in the form of an animal.

Description

2404569

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MEAL TRAY

The present invention relates to a meal tray and more particularly but not exclusively to a meal tray designed for children.

5 Meal trays are well known items and conventionally have recesses for receiving different foodstuffs which form parts of the meal. The recesses can be of different sizes and shapes. Examples of such trays are disclosed in US Patent specification Nos 4219144 and 2003/0015453. In each case, it is to be noted that the recesses which are arranged to receive foodstuffs are depressions from the 10 general plane of the tray.

It has further been proposed to create a game based on collecting menu items of a meal such as is disclosed in US 4948146 but in this case, there is no real food involved but merely pictorial representations of foodstuffs and utensils.

Until now, there has been no attempt to produce a meal tray such as would 15 be suitable for young children which would provide both receptacles for foodstuffs as well as an element of game play or instruction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a meal tray having a generally planar major surface with at least one recess for receiving a foodstuff, said recess projecting in a first direction away from the major surface, and a 20 further receptacle for foodstuff, which receptacle extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction away from the major surface.

Because the receptacles project in opposite directions from the major surface, the profile of the tray becomes much more interesting due to the fact that a three dimensional playing field is created. This alone creates a much more 25 interesting environment for a child. Additional receptacles may be added to the playing field as desired. These additional receptacles can either be integrally formed or may be latched to or even simply placed on the playing field.

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Additionally, decoration and/or printed indicia such as instructions or questions can be applied to the surface of the playing field, in order to increase the attraction of the tray. The decoration and/or printed indicia may provide for advertisement and may be associated with a theme linked to a particular activity, 5 character or event.

If desired, one or more of the receptacles can be provided with a cover which is only removed when the child has answered a question correctly or completed a previous exercise.

An important aspect of the present invention is that the tray can encourage 10 the provision and consumption of a balanced meal using appropriate foodstuffs and this can be achieved by colour coding the recesses and receptacles and by printing menus on the trays, preferably on the underside of the tray.

In order that the present invention be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to 15 the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a meal tray according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 2a shows a simplified side view of the meal tray according to the present invention;

20 Fig 2b shows a simplified plan view of the meal tray of Fig 2a;

Fig 3 shows a rear view of the meal tray of Fig 1;

Fig 4 shows the underside view of the meal tray of Fig 1; and Fig 5 shows further possible embodiments of the tray according to the present invention.

25 Referring now to the drawing, this shows a meal tray 10 having a generally planar major surface 11 provided with one or more shaped recesses 12a and 12b which form bowls for foodstuffs. The side walls of the bowls project in a first

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direction away from the plane of the major surface 11. It will be noted that the recess 12a is generally rectangular in shape whereas the recess 12b is generally circular in shape. These shapes are merely examples of typical shapes but can be different depending upon the intention of the designer. In particular, the shapes 5 can be either regular or irregular and it is not intended to limit these recesses to any particular geometric shape, and size.

In addition, a receptacle 14 is provided which is integral with the major surface 11 but has walls 14a which project in a second direction, opposite to the first direction so that the receptacle 14 projects upwardly from the plane of the 10 surface 11. In this example, the receptacle 14 is in the shape of a volcano and the crater thus constitutes a bowl 15 for receiving foodstuffs.

According to this particular embodiment, the tray is further provided with a second receptacle 18 with walls which also project in the second direction. However, this receptacle 18 differs from receptacle 14 in that it is also provided 15 with a lid 18a to be placed on the receptacle 18 if desired. The receptacle 18 and lid 18a in this example, form an igloo.

It is also to be noted that the tray is provided with a grid 16 for receiving foodstuffs such as chips (French fries), carrots or broccoli or any other foodstuff which could be inserted into the apertures in the grid 16. As shown, the grid 20 alternatively stands up from the general level of the plane of the surface 11 with walls 16a which project in the second direction. This may be achieved by the use of legs (not shown) but it is equally possible to create a recess where the grid is simply a cover over the recess and lies approximately in the same place as the major surface 11.

25 If desired, means (not shown) may be provided for securely retaining additional items on the tray. In the present example these are represented by spring fingers which are arranged to latch into, for example, a recess in the

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exterior of a cup 17 which might be in the form of an animal or reptile such as a dinosaur as shown in Fig 1.

In addition, printed material may be provided on the major surface 11 in order to create a game and or questions may be posed. The intention is to provide 5 an interesting area for a child while he or she is consuming the meal.

It will be understood that the number and shape of recesses and/or upstanding receptacle forming portions can be changed as can the general overall shape of the tray. In other words, it is not necessary for the tray to be rectangular.

The tray itself is preferably washable and robust so that it may be re-used. 10 As such, it is preferably made of a durable material such as aluminium or plastics which can be readily moulded. Furthermore, the tray may be provided around at least part, if not all, of its periphery by an upstanding wall.

Various accessories may be supplied as well as the tray itself. These accessories may include thematic items such as additional receptacles or cutlery 15 but could include a mask or a mitt for roll-play.

The upstanding wall of the tray may be provided with nutritional information or other additional information as shown in Fig 3. In addition, as shown in Fig 4, the underside of the tray may be provided with indicia giving additional information eg the nutritional value of foodstuffs and/or one or more 20 suggested menus for use with the tray.

The recesses and receptacles may be colour coded with a balanced meal being identified by one or more colour sequences provided on the tray which sequences indicate balanced meals.

Now turning to Fig 5, which shows a further possible modification to the 25 meal tray. As shown, the tray may be varied so as to represent different themes linked to a particular activity or character. In Figure 5, the tray is embodied with a dinosaur, fairy or pirate theme. However, it will be appreciated that any theme

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may be utilised. The tray can also be provided with means (not shown) to secure the tray to a table top 20. However, the shape of tray itself may be adapted to allow the securing to a table top. This may be achieved by adapting the shape of the corners of the meal tray so that the respective corners of the meal tray can be 5 received by indents in the respective corners of the table top.

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Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A meal tray having a generally planar major surface with at least one recess for receiving a foodstuff, said recess projecting in a first direction away from the

5 major surface, and a further receptacle for a foodstuff, which receptacle extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction away from the major surface.

2. A meal tray according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of recesses of differing shapes and/or size.

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3. A meal tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there are a plurality of further receptacles.

4. A meal tray according to claim 3, wherein the receptacles are of differing 15 shapes and/or size.

5. A meal tray according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein decoration is applied to the major surface.

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6. A meal tray according to any one of the preceding claims wherein decoration is applied to the or each recess or receptacle.

7. A meal tray according to any one of the preceding claims wherein indicia representing questions and/or instructions are provided.

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8. A meal tray according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the recesses and receptacles is provided with a reasonable lid.