US20060054649A1

US20060054649A1 - Wearable and disposable food tray

Info

Publication number: US20060054649A1
Application number: US11/224,101
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent Tippmann
Original assignee: Thermodyne Foodservice Products Inc
Current assignee: Thermodyne Foodservice Products Inc
Priority date: 2004-09-13
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2006-03-16

Abstract

A wearable food tray member for selectively positioning predetermined food and drink products thereon. The tray member includes a proximal end and a distal end. A first retaining member is selectively secured to the proximal end of the tray member. A second retaining member is selectively secured to the distal end of the tray member. The tray member is selectively positioned relative to a user in a substantially horizontal position by securing the first retaining member relative to a user's waist and by selectively positioning the second retaining member relative to a user's upper body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/608,882 filed on Sep. 13, 2004 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
A wearable tray for positioning food products thereon while enabling a user to have his/her hands free to consume the food products, shake the hand of another guest, open a door, etc.
2. Description of Background Art
Hithertofore, an individual attend a social gathering was normally required to hold a plate in one hand while holding a beverage container in the other. When each hand is occupied with holding either a plate or a beverage container, the individual is faced with a difficult situation in trying to consume a food product positioned on the plate. In addition, if another guest arrives to greet the individual, it is very awkward to shake the other guest's hand while both hands are occupied with holding the plate or the beverage container. In addition, it is very difficult to maneuver in a room with both hands occupied and it is difficult to open a door or attend to other matters that require the use of at least one free hand.
A serving tray may be used to hold the plate, the beverage container and the eating utensils. An individual would normally position the serving tray on his/her lap while seated to be able to consume the food and beverage positioned on the tray. However, the same difficulties as discussed above occur due to the fact that while standing both hands are occupied in holding the tray.
A serving plate holder is available for mounting a plate and a beverage container relative to the serving plate. In this way, only one hand is occupied to hold the serving plate holder. The second hand would be available for greeting other guests or opening a door. However, this arrangement is mainly suitable for consuming finger food. It is very difficult to use one hand to accomplish the cutting of the food product positioned on the plate.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wearable food tray that will permit a user to secure the food tray relative to his/her waist and upper body to permit the user to have both hands free for consuming the food or beverages positioned on the wearable food tray while being able to greet other guest or to open a door or to accomplish other tasks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wearable food tray that includes a plurality of serving sections on an upper surface of the tray for holding a variety of food products and condiments and a plurality of apertures for accommodating a beverage container, utensils, napkins, etc. for permitting the wearable food tray to provide a full complement of food and beverage and utensils for the user.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a wearable food tray member for selectively positioning predetermined food and drink products thereon. The tray member includes a proximal end and a distal end. A first retaining member is selectively secured to the proximal end of the tray member. A second retaining member is selectively secured to the distal end of the tray member. The tray member is selectively positioned relative to a user in a substantially horizontal position by securing the first retaining member relative to a user's waist and by selectively positioning the second retaining member relative to a user's upper body. The wearable food tray permits the user to have free use of both hands for consuming the food and/or beverage while enabling the user to greet other guests and/or open a door or accomplish other feats that require the use of one or both hands.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the proximal end of the wearable food tray; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the distal end of the wearable food tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a wearable food tray 10 includes a tray member 12 for selectively positioning predetermined food and drink products thereon. The tray member 12 including a proximal end 12A and a distal end 12B. A first retaining or securing member 14 is secured to the proximal end 12A of said tray member 12. A second retaining or securing member 16 is secured to the distal end 12B of the tray member 12.
In use, the tray member 12 is adapted to be selectively positioned relative to a user by securing the first retaining or securing member 14 relative to a user's waist and by selectively positioning the second retaining or securing member 16 relative to a user's upper body.
The proximal end 12A of the tray member 12 includes a recessed portion 12C extending a predetermined distance along a length of the proximal end 12A for conforming to a user's waist. In use, a user would position the recessed portion 12C adjacent to his/her stomach and then proceed to tie the first retaining or securing member 14 around his/her waist. The first retaining or securing member 14 may be a cord that is made of an elastic material for permitting the first retaining or securing member 14 to be slipped over an individual's head and then snuggly positioned adjacent to the individual's waist. As an alternative, the elastic cord may be slipped over an individual's feet and then snuggly positioned adjacent to the individual's waist.
The second retaining or securing member 16 may be a cord with a first end 16A secured to the distal end 12B of the tray member 12 and a second end 16B for being selectively positioned around a user's neck.
The tray member 12 includes an upper surface 12D, a first side wall 12E extending from the proximal end 12A to the distal end 12B and a second side wall 12F extending from the proximal end 12A to the distal end 12B. The upper surface 12D may be designed for positioning a plate on a central portion thereof. As an alterative, a recess 19 may be provided for holding a main food serving directly on the tray member 12. An aperture 18 may be provided for mounting a beverage container thereon. Recesses 20, 22 and 24 may be provided for holding secondary food servings or for holding condiments or toothpicks. An aperture 30 may be provided for accommodating a napkin. Apertures 32, 34 and 35 may be provided for positioning eating utensils such as a knife, fork and spoon.
In use, the wearable tray member 12 is adapted to be selectively positioned relative to a user in a substantially horizontal position by positioning the recessed portion 12C adjacent to his/her stomach and then proceeding to tie the first retaining or securing member 14 around his/her waist. As discussed above, in a first embodiment, the first retaining or securing member 14 may be a cord that is made of an elastic material for permitting the first retaining or securing member 14 to be slipped over an individual's head and then snuggly positioned adjacent to the individual's waist. As an alterative, the elastic cord may be slipped over an individual's feet and then snuggly positioned adjacent to the individual's waist. The wearable food tray permits the user to have free use of both hands for consuming the food and/or beverage while enabling the user to greet other guests and/or open a door or accomplish other feats that require the use of one or both hands. It is noted that the present invention permits a user to cut a food product on the tray member 12 with the use of both a knife and a fork. This is able to be accomplished due to the fact that both hands are free to permit the user to cut food or to consume finger food positioned on the tray member 12.
It is to be understood that the wearable food tray 10 may be made of disposable material for enabling the discarding of the wearable food tray 10 after use by an individual. As an alterative, the wearable food tray 10 may be made of a material to permit the wearable food tray 10 to be washed and reused.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wearable food tray comprising:

a tray member for selectively positioning predetermined food and drink products thereon, said tray member including a proximal end and a distal end;

a first retaining member for selectively being secured to said proximal end of said tray member; and

a second retaining member for selectively being secured to said distal end of said tray member;

wherein said tray member is adapted to be selectively positioned relative to a user in a substantially horizontal position by securing said first retaining member relative to a user's waist and by selectively positioning said second retaining member relative to a user's upper body.

2. The wearable food tray according to claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said tray member includes a recessed portion extending a predetermined distance along a length of said proximal end for conforming to a user's waist.

3. The wearable food tray according to claim 2, wherein said first retaining member is an elastic cord for ensuring that the proximal end of said tray member is snuggly positioned relative to a user's waist.

4. The wearable food tray according to claim 1, wherein said second retaining member is a cord with a first end secured to the distal end of said tray member and a second end for being selectively positioned around a user's neck.

5. The wearable food tray according to claim 1, wherein said tray member includes an upper surface, a first side wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end and a second side wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said upper surface being adapted to position at least one of a plate and a beverage container for enabling a user to consume food products while a user's arms are free from holding said tray member.

6. The wearable food tray according to claim 5, wherein said upper surface of said tray member includes a central recessed portion for accommodating a main food serving therein.

7. The wearable food tray according to claim 5, wherein said upper surface of said tray member includes an aperture for accommodating a beverage serving therein.

8. The wearable food tray according to claim 5, wherein said upper surface of said tray member includes a plurality of apertures for accommodating eating utensils and secondary food servings.

9. The wearable food tray according to claim 5, wherein said first retaining member is secured to said proximal end of the tray member adjacent to said first and second side walls.

10. The wearable food tray according to claim 5, wherein said second retaining member is secured to said distal end of said tray member adjacent to a central portion positioned between said first and second side walls.

11. A wearable food tray comprising:

a tray member having a predetermined thickness for defining a plurality of areas for selectively positioning predetermined food and drink products thereon, said tray member including a proximal end and a distal end;

a first securing member being secured to said proximal end of said tray member; and

a second securing member being secured to said distal end of said tray member;

wherein said tray member is adapted to be selectively positioned relative to a user in a substantially horizontal position by securing said first securing member relative to a user's waist and by selectively positioning said second securing member relative to a user's upper body.

12. The wearable food tray according to claim 11, wherein said proximal end of said tray member includes a recessed portion extending a predetermined distance along a length of said proximal end for conforming to a user's waist.

13. The wearable food tray according to claim 12, wherein said first securing member is an elastic cord for ensuring that the proximal end of said tray member is snuggly positioned relative to a user's waist.

14. The wearable food tray according to claim 11, wherein said second securing member is a cord with a first end secured to the distal end of said tray member and a second end for being selectively positioned around a user's neck.

15. The wearable food tray according to claim 11, wherein said tray member includes an upper surface, a first side wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end and a second side wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said upper surface including recessed portions for positioning food products for enabling a user to consume food products while a user's arms are free from holding said tray member.

16. The wearable food tray according to claim 15, wherein said upper surface of said tray member includes a central recessed portion for accommodating a main food serving therein.

17. The wearable food tray according to claim 15, wherein said upper surface of said tray member includes an aperture for accommodating a beverage serving therein.

18. The wearable food tray according to claim 15, wherein said upper surface of said tray member includes a plurality of apertures for accommodating eating utensils and secondary food servings.

19. The wearable food tray according to claim 15, wherein said first securing member is secured to said proximal end of the tray member adjacent to said first and second side walls.

20. The wearable food tray according to claim 15, wherein said second securing member is secured to said distal end of said tray member adjacent to a central portion positioned between said first and second side walls.