US3542280A - Serving tray with hinged cup retainer - Google Patents

Serving tray with hinged cup retainer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3542280A
US3542280A US798417A US3542280DA US3542280A US 3542280 A US3542280 A US 3542280A US 798417 A US798417 A US 798417A US 3542280D A US3542280D A US 3542280DA US 3542280 A US3542280 A US 3542280A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cup
receptacle
retainer
serving tray
serving
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US798417A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth L Crabtree
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Keyes Fibre Corp
Original Assignee
Keyes Fibre Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Keyes Fibre Corp filed Critical Keyes Fibre Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3542280A publication Critical patent/US3542280A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers
    • B65D1/36—Trays or like shallow containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S229/00—Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
    • Y10S229/902—Box for prepared or processed food
    • Y10S229/904—Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a serving tray, and more particularly to a tray with a hinged cup retainer for holding, carrying. and serving foodstuffs, beverages, and analogous products.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a simply constructed serving tray with a hinged cup retainer that supports beverage containers in a maximum stability of the containers and their contents.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a serving tray with a hinged cup retainer that may be nested in other like trays during transportation and storage in such a manner that the nested array c occupies only slightly more space than is necessary to accommodate the arithmetic total of the individual tray wall thicknesses.
  • a serving tray comprising a wall portion, an upwardly extending side wall portion connected to the bottom wall, and a peripheral rim or edge.
  • the serving tray also has a cup retainer and hinge structure for connecting the retainer to the receptacle.
  • the cup retainer has a cup-supporting platform spaced from and above the peripheral rim of the receptacle when the retainer is moved about the hinge structure into covering relationship with a portion of the receptacle.
  • At least one aperture is located in the elevated cup-supporting platform of' the retainer for receiving and thereby stabilizing a cup inserted into the aperture.
  • the side wall portion of the receptacle includes opposed side and end walls, and the cup retainer may be hinged to the receptacle at one of the end walls.
  • the hinge structure can comprise a pair of spaced apart hinges.
  • the cup retainer includes a continuous side wall portion with one edge thereof connected to the cup-supporting platform and the opposite edge forming a rim with a portion of the rim connected to the receptacle by the hinge structure.
  • the present invention also includes a serving tray having a second cup retainer and hinge structure for connecting that retainer to the receptacle at the opposite end wall thereof.
  • Each cup-supporting platform of the two cup retainers may manner which provides have a pair of v cup-receiving apertures for accommodating cups.
  • each of the retainers can be connected to the receptacle by a pair of spaced apart hinges.
  • Another embodiment of this invention includes a pair of half posts in the side wall portion of the receptacle, one in each of the opposed side walls.
  • a slotted opening in each half post is arranged to receive the rim of the cup retainer when the retainer and receptacle are moved together about the hinge structure to thereby lock the retainer to the receptacle.
  • the hinge structure may comprise a pair of spaced apart hinges.
  • FIG. I is a side elevational view of a serving tray with a hinged cup retainer according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the serving tray shown in FIG. I;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment .if the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is atop plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the serving tray illustrated in FIG. 5-,
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentalplan view of alternate hinge Structure for the various serving trays of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a serving tray 10 having a uniform thickness throughout.
  • the tray is preferably formed of a material which is capable of being molded as a single unit, i.e., integrally molded.
  • fiber pulp and the molding procedures associated therewith are particularly satisfactory for this purpose, other suitable materials may be used such as light, strong plastic which may be molded as a one piece unit between mating male and female dies or in other conventional dies.
  • the serving tray 10 comprises a receptacle 12 for holding foodstuffs such as sandwiches and the like.
  • the receptacle has a bottom wall portion 14 and an upwardly and outwardly extending side wall portion 16 surrounding the bottom wall and connected thereto.
  • a continuous peripheral rim or edge 18 is formed at the upper portion of the side wall 16.
  • the serving tray 10 includes a cup retainer 20 connected to the receptacle 12 by hinge structure 22 which includes a continuous straight line of reduced thickness in the material bridging the receptacle andcup retainer.
  • the cup retainer has a cupsupporting platform 24 and a continuous side wall portion 26 with one edge thereof connected to platform 24 and the opposite edge forming a rim 28.
  • a portion of the rim 28 is connected to the receptacle 12 by the hinge structure 22.
  • the cupsupporting platform 24 is spaced from and above the peripheral rim 18 of the receptacle when the cup retainer is moved about the hinge structure 22 into covering relationship with a portion of the receptacle.
  • a pair of apertures 3.0 are provided in the cup-supporting platform 24 of the retainer 20 for receiving and thereby stabilizing cups 32 or other beverage containers inserted into the apertures and resting upon the bottom wall portion 14 of the a receptacle.
  • the apertures may engage the cups the molded trays from the dies upon which they are formed.
  • the draft or inclination of the side walls enables a plurality of trays to be stacked one upon the other in nested relationship for easy transportation and storage.
  • a nested plurality of trays occupies slightly more space than is necessary to accommodate the arithmetic total of the individual tray wall thicknesses.
  • the portions of the platform 24 defining that aperture stabilize and support the cup at a position thereon which is spaced well above the bottom wall portion 14 of the receptacle to thereby prevent the cup from tipping.
  • the platform 24 supports the cup at a point above its center of gravity for maximum cup stability.
  • the container is supported at a location spaced from and above the peripheral rim of the receptacle for maximum cup stability.
  • the uncovered portion of the receptacle 12 is utilized for holding, carrying, and serving other foodstuffs.
  • the sidewall portion 26 of the cup-supporting platform functions as an elevated wall against which certain carry-out foods may be rested to increase the capacity of the receptacle l2.
  • FlGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another serving tray 40 which in many respects is similar in design and construction to the serving tray it ⁇ shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, for purposes of convenience and clarity similar parts are identified by the similar reference numerals.
  • the main distinction between the serving trays and 40 is the addition of a second cup retainer to the serving tray 40.
  • the second cup retainer 20' is connected to the slightly larger receptacle 12 by hinge structure 22' which includes a continuous straight line of reduced thickness in the material bridging the receptacle and the second cup retainer.
  • the serving tray 40 functions to hold, carry, and serve foodstuffs, beverages, and analogous products, much in the same manner as the serving tray 10 except that cups 32 or other beverage containers may be positioned at both ends of the serving tray 40 by the cup-supporting platforms of the cup retainers 20 and 20.
  • the serving tray 50 shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 comprises a receptacle 52 for holding foodstuffs much in the same manner as the receptacles of the previous embodiments of this invention.
  • Receptacle 52 has a bottom wall portion 54 and an upwardly and outwardly extending side wall portion 56 surrounding the bottom wall and connected thereto.
  • a continuous peripheral rim or edge 58 is formed at the upper portion of the side wall 56 and a cup retainer 60 is connected to the receptacle 52 at one end thereof by hinge structure 62.
  • the hinge structure includes a continuousstraight line of reduced thickness in the material that bridges the receptacle and cup retainer.
  • the cup retainer 60 has a cup-supporting platform 64 and a continuous side wall portion 66 with one edge thereof connected to the platform 64 and the opposite edge forming a rim 68 with a portion of the rim connected to the receptacle 52 by the hinge structure 62.
  • a cup-receiving aperture 70 is provided in the platform 64 of the retainer 60 for accommodating a cup 32 or other beverage container inserted into the aperture. Additional apertures may be located in the cup-supporting platform if desired.
  • the ortion of the receptacle 52 covered by the retainer 69 has a s ightly lesser depth than the balance of the receptacle.
  • the peripheral rim 68 snaps into the slotted openings 74 in the half posts 72 and the cup-supporting platform 64 is thereby positioned a sufficient distance from the bottom wall portion 54 of the receptacle.
  • the rim or upper edge of the receptacle could be on a common plane with the half posts rising to a slightly greater height.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate hinge structure $0 for the various serving trays shown in FlGS. 1-7.
  • Hinge structure 8t comprises a pair of spaced apart hinges which are separated from one another by an opening in the material bridging the receptacle and the cup retainer.
  • Each of the spaced apart hinges has a continuous straight line of reduced thickness in the material between the receptacle and cup retainer to facilitate hinging of these components about that line.
  • a serving tray comprising a receptacle including a substantially planar bottom wall portion, an upwardly extending side wall portion connected to the bottom wall, and a peripheral rim, a cup retainer, and hinge means connecting the cup retainer to the receptacle, the cup retainer including a cup-supporting platform spaced from and substantially above the peripheral rim of the receptacle when the cup retainer is moved about the hinge means into covering relationship with a portion of the receptacle, and at least one aperture in the cup-supporting platform of the retainer for receiving a cup.
  • a serving tray as in claim 2 including a second cup retainer and hinge means for connecting the second retainer to the receptacle at the other end wall, the second retainer including a cup-supporting platform spaced from and above the peripheral rim of the receptacle when the second retainer is moved about the hinge means into covering relationship with a portion of the receptacle, and at least one aperture in the cup-supporting platform of the second retainer for receiving a cup.
  • each cup-supporting platform has a pair of cup-receiving apertures.
  • a serving tray as in claim 5 including at least one inwardly depressed half post in the sidewall portion of the receptacle, and a slotted opening in the half post facing the hinge means constructed and arranged to receive the rim of the cup retainer when the retainer is moved about the hinge means into covering relationship with a portion of the receptacle to thereby lock the retainer to the receptacle.
  • a serving tray as in claim 7 wherein the hinge means comprises a pair of spaced apart hinges.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Passenger Equipment (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
US798417A 1969-02-11 1969-02-11 Serving tray with hinged cup retainer Expired - Lifetime US3542280A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79841769A 1969-02-11 1969-02-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3542280A true US3542280A (en) 1970-11-24

Family

ID=25173350

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US798417A Expired - Lifetime US3542280A (en) 1969-02-11 1969-02-11 Serving tray with hinged cup retainer

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3542280A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1253015A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IE (1) IE33956B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3866817A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-02-18 Mobil Oil Corp Plastic packaging tray, particularly for bananas
US3915371A (en) * 1973-10-04 1975-10-28 Keyes Fibre Co Nestable tray with cup supporting recess
US3944109A (en) * 1972-11-09 1976-03-16 Fkf Berlin Fleischwaren Und Konservenfabrik, Schulz & Berndt Gmbh & Co. Kg Combination serving tray with removable insert for serving means
US4195734A (en) * 1978-11-06 1980-04-01 Boner John O Apparatus for transporting medications or the like
US4208006A (en) * 1979-02-27 1980-06-17 Diamond International Corporation Molded pulp tray for beverage and food
US4218008A (en) * 1979-06-01 1980-08-19 Keyes Fibre Company Container holding socket for molded tray
US4368840A (en) * 1981-04-03 1983-01-18 Frito-Lay, Inc. Packaging container
US4494654A (en) * 1982-11-03 1985-01-22 Pizza Hut, Inc. Salad bar insert
US4848627A (en) * 1986-10-21 1989-07-18 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Storage box for vehicles
US4895259A (en) * 1989-03-02 1990-01-23 Container Corporation Of America Collapsible compartmented carton
USD311301S (en) 1988-06-10 1990-10-16 Starnes Gary B Food and beverage carrying tray
USD326972S (en) 1991-03-14 1992-06-16 Kreps Dennis J Accessory tray for attachment to a seat
USD349425S (en) 1992-11-05 1994-08-09 Kays H Terrell Snack tray
USD351087S (en) 1993-01-22 1994-10-04 Temp-Tech Co. Inc. Food tray with cover
US5520324A (en) * 1995-09-01 1996-05-28 Dopaco, Inc. Container for multiple foodstuffs
US5857583A (en) * 1997-09-18 1999-01-12 Tenneco Packaging Food service container with beverage cup holding pocket and covered food compartment
US5881935A (en) * 1997-02-26 1999-03-16 Nifco Inc. Container holding device
USD457425S1 (en) 2000-11-27 2002-05-21 Timo Petola Food and beverage tray with hinged lid
US7225927B2 (en) 2003-07-17 2007-06-05 Pactiv Corporation Cup holder having frusto-conical cavities
US20110210119A1 (en) * 2010-01-15 2011-09-01 Ronald Clark Clamshell food tray with cup-based latch
US8408437B1 (en) 2009-08-14 2013-04-02 Allan Ponsaa Motorcycle saddlebag apparatus and method
US20140110280A1 (en) * 2010-01-15 2014-04-24 Ronald Clark Clamshell Food Tray
US20140238982A1 (en) * 2013-02-22 2014-08-28 Michele Dabney-Wiggs Sealable sectioned container with recessed compartments

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3944109A (en) * 1972-11-09 1976-03-16 Fkf Berlin Fleischwaren Und Konservenfabrik, Schulz & Berndt Gmbh & Co. Kg Combination serving tray with removable insert for serving means
US3915371A (en) * 1973-10-04 1975-10-28 Keyes Fibre Co Nestable tray with cup supporting recess
US3866817A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-02-18 Mobil Oil Corp Plastic packaging tray, particularly for bananas
US4195734A (en) * 1978-11-06 1980-04-01 Boner John O Apparatus for transporting medications or the like
US4208006A (en) * 1979-02-27 1980-06-17 Diamond International Corporation Molded pulp tray for beverage and food
US4218008A (en) * 1979-06-01 1980-08-19 Keyes Fibre Company Container holding socket for molded tray
US4368840A (en) * 1981-04-03 1983-01-18 Frito-Lay, Inc. Packaging container
US4494654A (en) * 1982-11-03 1985-01-22 Pizza Hut, Inc. Salad bar insert
US4848627A (en) * 1986-10-21 1989-07-18 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Storage box for vehicles
USD311301S (en) 1988-06-10 1990-10-16 Starnes Gary B Food and beverage carrying tray
US4895259A (en) * 1989-03-02 1990-01-23 Container Corporation Of America Collapsible compartmented carton
USD326972S (en) 1991-03-14 1992-06-16 Kreps Dennis J Accessory tray for attachment to a seat
USD349425S (en) 1992-11-05 1994-08-09 Kays H Terrell Snack tray
USD351087S (en) 1993-01-22 1994-10-04 Temp-Tech Co. Inc. Food tray with cover
US5520324A (en) * 1995-09-01 1996-05-28 Dopaco, Inc. Container for multiple foodstuffs
US5881935A (en) * 1997-02-26 1999-03-16 Nifco Inc. Container holding device
US5857583A (en) * 1997-09-18 1999-01-12 Tenneco Packaging Food service container with beverage cup holding pocket and covered food compartment
USD457425S1 (en) 2000-11-27 2002-05-21 Timo Petola Food and beverage tray with hinged lid
US7225927B2 (en) 2003-07-17 2007-06-05 Pactiv Corporation Cup holder having frusto-conical cavities
US8408437B1 (en) 2009-08-14 2013-04-02 Allan Ponsaa Motorcycle saddlebag apparatus and method
US20110210119A1 (en) * 2010-01-15 2011-09-01 Ronald Clark Clamshell food tray with cup-based latch
US20140110280A1 (en) * 2010-01-15 2014-04-24 Ronald Clark Clamshell Food Tray
US8960480B2 (en) * 2010-01-15 2015-02-24 Ronald Clark Clamshell food tray with cup-based latch
US9415902B2 (en) * 2010-01-15 2016-08-16 Ronald Clark Clamshell food tray
US20140238982A1 (en) * 2013-02-22 2014-08-28 Michele Dabney-Wiggs Sealable sectioned container with recessed compartments

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IE33956L (en) 1970-08-11
IE33956B1 (en) 1974-12-30
GB1253015A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-11-10

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