GB2516811A

GB2516811A - Tray

Info

Publication number: GB2516811A
Application number: GB1310270.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Holloway
Original assignee: GLASSSAFE Ltd
Current assignee: GLASSSAFE Ltd
Priority date: 2013-06-10
Filing date: 2013-06-10
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Also published as: GB201310270D0

Abstract

A tray 1 has a top surface 3, a peripheral edge 5, a strap 12 and pockets 18. The pockets have somewhat flexible internal side walls. This flexibility could arise for the pockets being cut into a foamed plastic core; by the walls being gel filled; or by fingers of the upper surface moveable from a position extending over the pockets to a position projecting down into them. The trays surface could be waterproof, provided by a covering over the foam which could be detached for cleaning. The tray could have a curved edge to fit against ones body. The pockets are designed to conform to the shape of a variety of different shaped empty cups and glasses collected by a waiter.

Description

TRAY

This disclosure relates to trays for use in carrying beverage containers such as glasses and bottles.

At events where drinks are served hospitality staff often have to collect the empty glasses and bottles. Currently the staff may collect these empty beverage containers either by simply carrying these empty beverage containers in their hands or by carrying them on a traditional fiat tray. Both of these methods require the use of the staff members' hands and so the staff member will be unable to carry out other tasks, such as taking orders for further drinks, while they are carrying the empty beverage containers.

Additionally there is both a danger of dropping the beverage containers, if these are carried by hand, and a danger of the containers slipping off a flat tray, if the staff member should be momentarily unbalanced. This may lead to broken glass which would present a hazard to both the staff members and anyone else in the area.

Both of these methods for collecting empty beverage contains also severely Umit the number of beverage contains a staff member may carry.

The current disclosure arises from our work seeking to provide a novel solution that avoids the problems inherent in the way empty beverage containers have been collected heretofore.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tray, comprising: a tray body having a top surface with a circumextending edge, and being provided with at least one strap enabling the tray to be supported by a user's body with the top surface generally horizontal and a portion of said edge resting against the user's body, while leaving the user's hands free; the tray body being provided with a plurality of pockets opening at the top surface, each said pocket being defined at least in part by pocket side surfaces provided with a degree of compliance, whereby each said pocket is capable both of receiving and of holding beverage containers over a range of different shapes and sizes.

It will be readily appreciated that the top surface of the tray does not need to be truly horizontal in use. It is sufficient that when supported by a user's body, the beverage containers may be pushed into the pockets from above and held without being liable to fall out due to the inclination of the tray. The term "generally horizontal" as used herein should be understood accordingly.

PrefelTed embodiments have one or more of the following features: the said portion of the edge being curved generally to correspond to the front of a user's body. The tray body suitably has a waterproof surface, preferably provided by a waterproof cover removable to allow cleaning. The at least one strap may be adjustable and the or each such strap may be provided with a buckle to release the strap. A first strap may be attached to left and right sides of the tray body and be adapted to be looped around the back of a user's neck to support the tray. Alternatively, respective straps may be attached to the tray body at left and right sides thereof, the respective straps being adapted to pass over respective shoulders of the user. Alternatively, respective straps may be attached to the tray body each strap being attached to the left and right sides of the tray body, the respective straps being adapted to pass over respective shoulders and across the back of the user. A further strap may be attached to the tray at its left and right sides and arranged to pass around the user's waist. The pockets may be defined by wells formed in foamed plastics material capable of being deformed reversibly, thereby providing a degree of compliance. Alternatively, the side surfaces of the pockets may comprise gel-filled walls capable of being deformed reversibly. In a further alternative arrangement, side surfaces of a pocket may be defined by a plurality of fingers or flaps of materiai coupled together at one end to define an opening into the pocket, the other ends of the fingers or flaps of material being displaceable outwardly as a beverage container is inserted into the pocket and exerting a return force on a beverage container located within the pocket.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method for collecting and carrying beverage containers comprises the steps of: employing at least one strap to fit a tray, comprising a tray body having a top surface with a circumextending edge. to a user's body with a portion of the said edge resting against the user's body and the tray generally horizontal while leaving the user's hands free; and pushing beverage containers into a plurality of pockets provided in the tray body and opening at the top surface; each said pocket being defined at least in part by pocket side surfaces provided with a degree of compliance, whereby each said pocket is capaHe of receiving and holding beverage containers over a range of different shapes and sizes.

Reference may now be made to the description of preferred embodiments by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a tray; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a tray similar to the tray shown in Fig. I; Fig. 3 is a perspective view from front and below of a tray similar to the tray shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of a tray similar to the tray shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a tray, similar to the tray shown in Fig. 1, being supported by a user; and Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a tray, similar to the tray shown in Fig. 1, being supported by a user.

In the several views, like numerals are employed for fike features.

A tray 1 has a tray body 2. The tray body 2 shown in Figs. ito 5 has a top surface 3, a bottom surface 4 and a front 5, back 6 and left and right sides 7 and 8 connecting the top surface 3 to the bottom surface 4. The back 6 defining a first curvcd edge 9 shaped generally to correspond to the front of a user's body. The tray body 2 should be made from a light weight materia' which is both rigid and strong. We have found moulded plastics to be a suitable material.

The tray body 2 is enclosed in a waterproof covering 10. A zip 11 extending round the back 6 and sides 7 and 8 of the tray body allows the waterproof covering 10 to be removed for cleaning. It will be readily understood that instead of using a zip II the waterproof covering 10 could be fixed around the tray body 2 using a variety of fasteners, these could include a hook and loop fastener system, buttons or poppers.

The tray I has a first strap 12 which is attached to left and right sides 7 and 8 of the tray body 2 near the forward ends of the left and right sides, and is adapted to be looped around the back of a user's neck to support the tray I. The first strap 12 is also provided with a cushion 13, which can be moved along the first strap 12. The cushion 13 is provided to prevent the first strap 12 from chafing the user's neck. The tray 1 also has a second strap 14 which is also attached to left and right sides 7 and 8 of the tray body 2, but near the rearward ends of the left and right sides, and is arranged to pass around the user's waist.

The first strap 12 and the second strap 14 are provided with a first buckle 15 and a second buckle 16 respectively. The buckles 15 and 16 allow the user to adjust the length of the straps 12 and 14 and to release the straps 12 and 14 to facilitate the user in positioning the straps 12 and 14 around their neck and waist or in removing them.

While not shown in the drawings, it will be readily understood that respective straps attached to the tray body at left and right sides could be adapted to pass over respective shoulders of the user. A further alternative anangernent has two straps, one being attached to the forward end of the left side, being adapted to pass over the left shoulder of a user, across their back and being attached to and right side of the tray body, and the other strap having the converse configuration.

When strap 12 is looped round the user's neck and strap 14 is passed around the user's waist the curved edge 9 of the tray is supported by the front of the user's body with the top suiface 3 generally horizontal. Most importantly, the user's hands are left free.

The body 2 is provided with a plurality of pockets 17 opening at the top surface 3.

The pockets 17 have pocket side surfaces 18 provided with a degree of compliance so that each pocket 17 is capable of receiving and holding beverage containers over a range of different shapes and sizes.

Compliance may be provided for the side surfaces 18 of the pockets 17 by forming the tray body from foamed plastics material capable of being deformed reversibly, with the pockets being defined by wells in the foamed plastics. Alternatively the side surfaces 18 of said pockets 17 may comprise gel-filled walls capable of being deformed reversibly, in a further alternative arrangement, side surfaces 18 of a pocket 17 may be defined by a plurality of fingers or flaps of material coupled together at one end to define an opening into the pocket, the other ends of the fingers or flaps of material being displaceable outwardly as a beverage container is inserted into the pocket 17 and exerting a return force on a beverage container located within the pocket.

When the tray I is being supported by the user the user may walk around and may use their hands to pick up empty beverage containers and insert them in the pockets 17.

By simply walking while supporting the loaded tray 1 the user can then transport these beverage containers to a location where they can be washed or disposed of Alternatively the user could insert tiled beverage containers into the pockets and by walking while supporting the tray I can transport these beverages to customers.

The trays 1 illustrated in the present drawings all a depth with front, rear and left and side surfaces, but this is not essential. The tray may be relatively thin, merely with a circurnextending edge about the top surface, and the pockets being formed as re-entrant depending elements below the top surface. Where the front and sides of the tray have depth, the sm-face so defined may carry advertising.

The pockets are here shown as substantially the same size and arranged in two curved rows. It will readily be appreciated that any other desired disposition of pockets could be provided, with some of a smaller size to accommodate stemware, and some of a larger size to accommodate pint glasses.

Claims

Claims 1. A tray comprising: a tray body having a top surface with a circumextending edge, and being provided with at least one strap enabling the tray to be supported by a user's body with the top surface generally horizontal and a portion of said edge resting against the user's body, while leaving the user's hands free; the tray body being provided with a plurality of pockets opening at the top surface, each said pocket being defined at least in part by pocket side surfaces provided with a degree of compliance, whereby each said pocket is capable both of receiving and of holding beverage containers over a range of different shapes and sizes.
2. A tray according to Claim 1, wherein the said portion of the circumextcnding edge for resting against a user's body is curved generally to colTespond to the front of a user's body.
3. A tray according to Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the tray body has a waterproof surface.
4. A tray according to Claim 3, wherein the waterproof surface is provided by a waterproof cover removable to allow cleaning.
5. A tray according to any preceding Claim, wherein the pockets are defined by wells formed in foamed plastics material capable of being deformed reversibly, thereby providing a degree of compliance.
6. A tray according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the side surfaces of the pockets comprise gel-filled walls capable of being deformed reversibly.
7. A tray according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the side surfaces of a pockct are defined by a plurality of fingers or flaps of material coupled together at. one end to define an opening into the pocket. the other ends of the fingers or flaps of material being displaceable outwardly as a beverage container is inserted into the pocket and exerting a return force on a beverage container located within the pocket.
8. A method for collecting and carrying beverage containers comprising the steps of: employing at least one strap to fit a tray, comprising a tray body having a top surface with a circumextending edge, to a user's body with a portion of the said edge resting against the user's hody and the tray gencrally horizontal whilc Icaving the user's hands free; and pushing beverage containers into a plurality of pockets provided in the tray body and opening at the top surface; each said pocket being defined at least in part by pocket side surfaces provided with a degree of compliance, whereby each said pocket is capable of receiving and holding beverage containers over a range of different shapes and sizes.
9. A tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
10. A method for collecting and carrying beverage containers, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.CD a)