US1996300A

US1996300A - Serving tray

Info

Publication number: US1996300A
Application number: US715339A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lindsay Hugh William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-03-13
Filing date: 1934-03-13
Publication date: 1935-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1952-04-02

Description

April 2, 1935. w N Y 1,996,300

SERVING TRAY Filed Marion 1:, 1934' f Patented Apr. 2, 1935 mmfor-ms; 1

SERVING TRAY Hugh William Lindsay, Gastonia, N. 0. Application March 19, 1934, Serial No. 715,339 2Claims. (01. 224-48) This invention relates to serving trays and more particularly to a sanitary means for sealing containers which are supported in the tray so as toprevent spilling of the contents thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide in a serving tray means whereby cups or other containers, which are supported in the tray, will be covered by means of a sanitary cover which is held in tight position by means of a plate detachably carried by the tray structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tray structure of this kind which is adapted to be used in the serving of drinks at roadside places or other places where the drinks are carried for a distance from the point of serving and which includes means to prevent the contents of the containers from being contaminated.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in partpbe described and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated inthe accompanying drawing wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional iview taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the clamping plate for the sanitary sealing member for the containers supported in the tray.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I designates generally a tray structure comprising a base I I and an article supporting rack I2 which is secured to the base H by a standard or post l3. The rack l2 comprises a plate I4 provided with a plurality of apertures, each defined by a depending inverted frustro-conical member l5 within which a cup or liquid holding member [6 is adapted to engage. Preferably, the cups or liquid holding members l6 are of a size such that the lower portion thereof will project below the bottom of the depending members IS. The central portion of the plate M has a, chamber ll secured thereto and extending therebelow. This chamber I7 is adapted to receive articles such as packages of merchandise in the form of cigarettes or may receive pieces of ice. The top of the standard I3 is secured to the central portion of the bottom of the chamberor well H.

A substantially U-shaped handle or bail I8 is secured to the plate l4, and this bail I 8 has on one leg l9 thereof, a match chamber or compartment 20. This member 20 may beof sufilcient depth to hold straws or like articles.

'A cover plate 2! provided with an elongated bail receiving slot 22 is adapted to engage'the top of the cups or containers Hi. This plate 2| 5 is preferably constructed of relatively rigid material and the slot 22 terminates at one end 7 in a rounded opening 23 which engages aboutrthe vertically opening compartment 2%. g

A sanitary pad 24 is interposed between the bottom of the plate or cover 2! and the tops of the cups or containers I6, and may be constructed out of paper or fabric and is of a size such as to overlap the outeredges of the containers I6.

In order to hold the cover plate 2! in a tight position on top of thecups or containers l6 and to also tightly clamp the cups it within the cup receiving members I5, I have provided a pair of depending lugs-25 and 26, which are carried by the cover plate 2|. The lug 25 engages against one end of the bail l8 and preferably engages against the leg l8 of the bail, whereas the lug 26 engages against the outer side of the container 20. The leg ill at a desired point intermediate its length, is provided on the outside thereof with a projection 27, and on the lug 25 is provided with a detent 28 within which the projection 21 is received. In like manner, the container 20, has a projection 29, which is engaged by a detent 30 carried by the lug 26. Through the use 30 of these lugs 25 and 26 and the projections27 and 2a, the cover plate 2| is clamped and firmly held against the tops of the cups '16 so that the contents of the cups will not spill while the tray is being carried. a

In the use of the tray structure herein disclosed, the containers or cups l6 may be inserted in the openings provided in the plate I 4, and when the desired number of cups have been placed in the rack 52, the napkin 24 may be 40 slipped over the bail; The cover plate 2| is then slipped over the bail and moved inwardly thereof until the lugs 25 and 26 engage the projections 21 and 29, respectively. When the cover plate 2i is in position, a considerable portion/cf the bail will project thereabove and the top of the match compartment 20 will project there above. The tray can then be carried to the customer and during'the carrying of the tray, it will be obvious that the contents of the cups I6 will not spill out. The receptacle l1 may have either ice, cigarettes or any other article disposed therein, so that the device may be used for the serving of drinks and other articles.

What is claimed is:- V

1. In a serving tray structure including an article supporting rack, a bail carried by the rack, a cover plate having a slot to receive said bail, depending recessed yieldable clamping members integral with the plate and disposed at opposite ends of the slot, means fixedly carried by the bail and. engageable within the recess of each member to releasably hold the plate in operative position. I l 1 2. In a serving traystructure including an article supporting rack and a bail carried by the rack, a cover plate having an elongated slot therein to loosely engage about the bail, depending recessed yieldable clamping members integral with the plate and disposed at opposite ends of the slot, means fixed to the bail engageable within the recess of each member to releasably hold the bail in operative position, and a fabric sheet disposed between the plate and the tops of articles disposed in the supporting rack.

HUGH WILLIAM LINDSAY.