GB2485186A - Tray for holding foodstuff and a drinking vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray 10 for holding foodstuff and a drinking vessel comprises a support platform 11 for supporting foodstuff with a cradle depending there from, the cradle having side walls and a base and being configured to provide a cup holder to receive a drinking vessel, cup, beverage container or the like in use, the cradle being disposed beyond the underside of the platform, such that a centre of gravity of the supported drinking vessel is arranged to act from a position below the platform. The support platform can have a peripheral rim 13 to retain foodstuff on the support platform, one or more receptacles arranged to receive foodstuff (not shown) and/or may have a recess 12 for a plate or bowl. The cradle is preferably frusto-conical in shape having tapering side walls 16 and a base 17. The cradle preferably further comprises a lip 18 that extends above the support platform. The support platform and cradle are preferably formed integrally but may be formed separately and secured together. In use, the cradle may form a hand grip portion and the tray is configured so as to be able to balance upon the base of the cradle when placed on a supporting surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a tray.

Many social events, such as wedding receptions and conferences, require a person to move around and network with other persons while carrying a tray or plate of food, and a drink, for example. However, when networking it can be difficult to simultaneously hold a tray and a drink in the same hand, in order to free a hand to eat the food.

I have now devised an improved tray which addresses the above-mentioned problem.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tray for holding foodstuff and a drinking vessel, the tray comprising a support platform for supporting foodstuff and a vessel receiving cradle for receiving a drinking vessel, the cradle comprising side walls which extend from the support platform to a base region which is disposed beyond the underside of the platform, such that a centre of gravity of the supported drinking vessel is arranged to act from a position below the platform.

Advantageously, the cradle provides for a stable tray by supporting the drinking vessel within the cradle such that the centre of gravity of the vessel acts below the platform.

This enables a user to grip the tray, using the side walls of the cradle as a handle, proximate the centre of gravity of the drinking vessel, and thus stabilise the drinking vessel as the user moves around with the tray.

Preferably, the side walls of the cradle converge in a direction which is away from an underside of the platform toward the base region. The cradle thus enables a user to grip the side walls of the cradle to suitably hold the tray and thus single-handedly support a plate of food for example and a drinking vessel, such as a wine glass, by positioning the wine glass within the cradle.

Preferably, the side walls of the vessel receiving cradle extend from the support platform, from a position disposed along at least a portion of a periphery of an aperture formed within the support platform. The side walls of the cradle preferably further extend partly above the support platform to form a lip which extends along at least a portion of the periphery of the aperture.

Preferably, the support platform comprises a recess disposed therein within which a plate or bowl or similar is arranged to locate, to minimise any slipping of the plate or bowl across the support platform, as a user moves around with the tray. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the platform may comprise one or more receptacles formed therein for receiving foodstuff.

The vessel receiving cradle is preferably closed at the base region. The cradle thus completely encloses the drinking vessel at the underside of the platform and therefore prevents the vessel from becoming inadvertently knocked which may otherwise spill the beverage held therein.

Preferably, the base region is weighted such that upon positioning the base region upon a support surface, the support platform remains suitably orientated for supporting foodstuff.

The tray is preferably stackable with similar trays, by placing the vessel receiving cradle of one tray within a vessel receiving cradle of another tray.

Preferably, the support platform further comprises a peripherally extending rim which extends substantially upwardly from the support platform, to minimise any foodstuff from passing off the support platform during use of the tray.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray illustrated in figure 1; and, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A illustrated in figure 1.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a tray 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention for supporting foodstuff (not shown) and a drinking vessel (not shown). The tray 10 comprises a substantially planar support platform 11 having a depression or recess 12 formed therein within which a bowl or plate (not shown), upon which the foodstuff is provided, is arranged to locate. Alternatively, the recess 12 may be arranged to receive foodstuff directly thereon. In a further alternative, the platform 11 may comprise one or more receptacles (not shown) which are arranged to receive foodstuff. The support platform 11 further comprises a peripherally extending rim 13 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the platform 11, substantially upwardly away from the platform 11.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the support platform 11 further comprises a substantially circular aperture 14 disposed therein, which is located within the platform 11 such that the platform 11 completely encloses the aperture 14. In an alternative embodiment, which is not illustrated, it is to be appreciated that the aperture 14 may partially extend through a periphery of the platform 11.

The tray 10 further comprises a vessel receiving cradle 15 which is arranged to receive at least a portion of a drinking vessel (not shown) therein. The cradle 15 is substantially frusto-conical in shape and comprises side walls 16 which extend downwardly from the underside 12a of the platform 11 from a position disposed peripherally of the aperture 14, and which converge toward a base region 17. The side walls 16 also extend partially above the platform 11 and define a lip 18 which extends above the platform 11, peripherally of the aperture 14. The cradle 15 and support platform 11 may be formed of a card, plastic or a ceramic material and are preferably formed integrally. However, it is to be appreciated that the platform 11 and cradle 15 may be formed separately and secured together.

The side walls 16 of the cradle 15 extend to a distance below the underside 12a of the platform 11 and the recess 12 formed therein, such that a centre of gravity of a drinking vessel (not shown) which becomes positioned therein acts from a position below the underside of the platform 11. The side walls 16 of the cradle 15 enable a user (not shown) to hold the tray 10 in a suitable configuration and at a position proximate the centre of gravity of the drinking vessel and thus stabilise the drinking vessel as the user moves around with the tray 10. The base region 17 of the cradle 15 is closed by an end wall 19 such that the side walls 16 of the cradle 15 and the end wall 19 define a chamber which extends below the plane of the platform 11. The base region 17 may further comprise a weighted portion 20, such that upon positioning the base region 17 upon a support surface, such as a table (not shown), the cradle 15 and base region 17 maintain the support platform 11 in a suitable orientation for support foodstuff (not shown), for

example.

In use, a user (not shown) grips the side walls 16 of the cradle 15 with their hand or if the user is seated, grips the cradle between their legs for example, and orientates the support platform 11 in a substantially horizontal configuration for receiving and supporting foodstuff (not shown). If required, a user (not shown) locates a plate or bowl (not shown) or similar within the recess 12 of the platform 11 and populates the plate (not shown) with foodstuff (not shown). The location of the plate (not shown) within the recess 12 helps to minimise any sliding of the plate (not shown) upon the platform 11 as the user (not shown) moves around. Alternatively, the user (not shown) may place the food directly upon the tray 10, in which case, the rim 13 serves to minimise any foodstuff from passing off the platform 11 as the user moves around.

The user then selects their beverage, such as a glass of wine or a can of soft drink and places the respective drinking vessel (not shown) within the cradle 15, by passing the vessel into the cradle 15 through the aperture 14. The tapered side walls 16 of the cradle provide a friction fit between the walls 16 and the vessel (not shown) which serve to securely hold the vessel (not shown) in place. Accordingly, the tray 10 enables a user to support foodstuff (not shown) and a drinking vessel (not shown) securely and single-handedly, thereby enabling the user to user their other hand for eating and drinking etc. Furthermore, since the side walls 16 of the cradle 15 extend below the platform 11 to support the majority of the drinking vessel (not shown) below the level of the platform 11, and thus ensure that the centre of gravity of the vessel (not shown) extends below the platform 11, the tray 10 enables a user to hold the tray 10 using the side walls 16 as a handle, proximate the centre of gravity of the drinking vessel (not shown), to stabilise the drinking vessel (not shown).

The tray 10 further enables a user to place the tray 10 upon a table (not shown) for example, since the weighted portion 20 and/or the weight of the beverage and drinking vessel (not shown) prevent the tray 10 from falling over and thus preserves the orientation of the platform 11. When the trays 10 are no longer required, the cradle 15 of one tray 10 may be inserted through the aperture 14 and into the cradle 15 of another tray 10, 50 that the trays 10 become stacked one on top of the other.

From the foregoing therefore it is evident that the tray according to the above described embodiment provides for a simple yet effective means of holding food and drink while enabling a user to eat and drink, and move around in a social environment