TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to trays and containers for food and particularly to an organizer (tray) that enables the user to hold the organizer in one hand leaving the other hand free for eating or other purposes.

BACKGROUND ART Food trays are very useful for many situations where the diner is not able or desirous to sit down at a dinner table. Meals for such occasions are often of the fast food variety, particularly"finger food"such as kebobs potatoes, crackers, etc. Balancing a beverage on such occasions is a particular challenge. The problem is further complicated by the occasional need to have a free hand such as for greeting an attendee at a party, etc.

In the context of this specification, the term"finger food"is meant food that is normally picked up by the fingers and deposited without the use of utensils such as a fork, spoon or chopsticks.

Trays for dispensing food are used frequently in cafeterias. Such trays are a panel with depressions. Each depression holds an item of food. In some trays, the tray has a flange, coplanar with the tray, extending from opposite edges permitting the user to grasp a flange in each hand to carry the tray from a counter to a dining table. The use of such trays does not permit the user to stand, hold the tray and eat from the tray.

A number of disclosures have appeared related to various tray configurations. tJ. S. Patent 6,264, 026 B1 discloses a utility food tray having a shallow food section and an aperture for receiving a beverage container and has downwardly extending legs.

U. S. Patent 6,152, 302 discloses a"chip and dip"tray that nests a beverage container with a bag of chips.

U. S. Patent 5,971, 139 discloses a tray with a food and beverage section and a bottomward extending handgrip.

U. S. Patent 5, 598, 944 discloses a food bowl integrally joined to a section having a depression for receiving a beverage cup.

U. S. Patent 5,544, 744 to Oman discloses a tray section fitted onto a container section in which openings in the tray section expose any items stored in the container section to drippage (ntamination) through the holes directly onto the items.

U. S. patent 5,057282 to Linder discloses a tray section fitted onto a container section in which openings in the tray section expose any item (e. g. , napkin) stored in the container section to drippage (contamination) through the holes 64 directly onto the items.

U. K. 2121270 to Pye et al discloses a tray for carrying (beverage) glasses but has no provision for carrying a napkin protected from drippage.

None of the trays disclosed are especially convenient for arranging and dispensing food "dripping"with juices, gravies, nor for enabling the diner to hold the dispenser in one hand leaving the other hand free.. An arrangement whereby a napkin is storable in a protected environment (i. e. , not exposed to dripping juices) would be very useful at social functions.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a food organizer that a user can conveniently hold in one hand leaving a free hand for partaking the food and beverage or for whatever other contingency might arise. It is another object that the food organizer be arranged for storing a napkin as a part of the organizer for convenient retrieval by the free hand and that the napkin be protected, while it is stored, from soilage originating with dripping food, etc.

It is contemplated that the food organizer of this invention be convenient in social gatherings where, according to custom, the attendees stand in groups to alternately shake hands, chat and take bites of finger food. This invention is directed toward a food organizer that includes a tray section, for arranging and holding food items and beverage, that fits onto a box section arranged for storing a napkin. The napkin is stored in an arrangement that avoids soiling the napkin from dripping juices.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a tray with depressions. Each depression holds food items or a beverage, accessible with a drinking straw. A space is provided between the bottom of the depressions and the floor of the box section. The organizer is preferably supplied by the manufacturer with the napkin already placed on the floor of the box section before the tray section is positioned on the top edge of the box. The napkin is arranged with a corner of the napkin protruding through an opening in the side of the box section so that the user can take hold of the corner and withdraw the napkin from the dispenser when required.

In another embodiment, the tray section has apertures into which items such as kebobs are inserted that extend toward the floor of the box section. When the napkin is stored in the box section, in order to protect the napkin from drippage, the napkin is positioned in a tunnel formed by a channel placed on the floor of the box section.

In the context of this specification, the channel is understood to be an elongated member having an edge of one side panel joined perpendicularly to an edge of a joining panel opposite another side panel joined to an opposite edge of the joining panel. The tunnel is formed by free ends of the channel supported on the floor of the box section.

An opening in the sidewall of the box section is formed at the end of the tunnel (inverted channel). A corner of the napkin (lying in the tunnel) protrudes through the opening so that the user can grasp the corner and withdraw the napkin when required.

The tray section has a well for receiving a cup of beverage, and wells for bulkier items such as hamburgers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the organizer that shows arrangement of food and beverage.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the tray section of the organizer of this invention.

Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of the box section of the organizer of this invention.

Fig. 3A is a side view of the tray section of the organizer of version 9A.

Fig. 3B is a side view of the box section of the organizer of version 9B.

Figs. 4A and 4B shows details of two versions of the ridge-groove engagement of edges of the tray and box sections.

Fig. 5 shows thermal insulation of the box section.

Fig. 6 shows a channel forming a tunnel for a napkin.

Fig. 7 shows another channel forming a false floor to support kebobs.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment for storing large items such as hamburgers.

Fig. 9A and 9B show a version of the tray including a section holding a beverage.

Fig 10 is a perspective view of the invention showing a slot for withdrawing a stored napkin.

Fig. 11 is an exploded view of fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a version showing the opening for the napkin positioned in the space between the bottom of the depressions and the floor of the container.

Fig. 13 shows a slot for providing a handle to grasp the container by inserting fingers through the slot.

Fig. 14 is a list of steps in the method for practicing the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and enable one to make and use the invention. Several embodiments, adaptations modifications, etc. , are described including what I presently believe to be the best mode for carrying out the invention.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation (side) view of the organizer (food tray). The different items of the meal are stored in separate areas in an arrangement that enables the user to hold the organizer in one hand while the other hand is free to select any of the items or perform other incidental activities.

Fig. 1 shows the items of the meal. One item is a group 12 of meats and/or vegetables skewered on the lower ends of sticks 14. The upper ends of the sticks are conveniently accessible for permitting the diner to select and withdraw the kebob (stick 14) of choice.

Another item 16 is any one of fried potatoes, etc.

Another item is a cup 18 of beverage, conveniently arranged to permit the user to withdraw the cup and replace the cup with one hand.

Another item 20 is a hamburger, stored in a separate compartment.

Another item is a napkin 22 stored in a separate dry compartment from which the user is able to withdraw the napkin 22 with his free hand.

Figs. 1 and 2A show the tray section 24 haying a relatively flat tray area 38 at one end with an array of apertures 40. Skewered kebobs 14 A, B of meat and/or vegetables 12 are inserted (meat end down) through the apertures 40. The bottom end 42 of the skewered kebob is supported on a false floor (raised platform) 44 on the floor of the container section 26. The kebobs are typically provided on short sticks 14A and/or long sticks 14B. As shown in fig. 1, the false floor 44 on the floor of the container section supports the shorter sticks 14A. The longer sticks 14B extend all the way to the floor 48 of the container section 26.

As shown to best advantage in fig. 2A, the end of the tray section 24 opposite the array of "skewer holding'apertures 40 comprises a basin 52 that is concave toward the container section.

The basin 52 has two compartments separated by a"cup holder"54. The"cup holder"54 is preferably a cone tapered to conform to the cup 18 (shown in fig. 1) that is stored in the holder 54 but is readily withdrawn by the user for drinking purposes.

"Finger"food is storable in either one of the compartments 52A, B and a"bulk"item (e. g. , a bun, etc) is storable in the other compartment on the other side of the cup holder.54.

The container section 26 has a slot 58 (shown in fig. 2B) in one end arranted to permit sliding a folded napkin 22 through one end of the box section 26. Fig. 6 is a cutaway sectional view, showing a channel 51 (an inverted"U") forming a tunnel with the floor 48 of the container section 26. This arrangement permits sliding a napkin 22 through slot 58 and under cup holder 54. A cup 18 in cup holder 54 rests on the inverted channel 51 FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the tray section 24 poised for mounting on the container section 26 shown in the perspective view of fig. 2B.

Figs. 4A and 4B show two versions according to which the rim of the tray section is detachably engagable with the rim of the container section 26. Cutaway sections of the tray section 24 and container section 26 are shown.

In the version of fig. 4A, the container section 26 has a lip with a ridge 34 that mates with a groove 32 in the lip 30 of the tray section. Lip 30 has a downwardly extending skirt 39.

In the version fig. 4B, the container section 26 has a ridge 34 that engages groove 32 on skirt 39 attached to tray 24. Tray section 24 also has an extension 41 that is easily grasped for separating the tray section 24 from the container section 26.

In another embodiment (not shown), the rim 30 of the tray section 24 is permanently sealed to the container section 26 at the time of manufacturing the invention. This embodiment is practical where the practice is to"throw away"the organizer after a single usage. The permanently sealed rim greatly increases the rigidity of the organizer and permits use of a substantially thinner plastic sheet in fabricating the organizer. In this regard, sheet plastic of 0.6 !. mm is the preferred thickness.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment in which insulating bubble 60 sheet is attached to the inside of the container section 26 to provide thermal insulation.. Alternatively, the container section 26 is formed of foam styrene.

In another embodiment, the basin 52 is covered with a sheet of bubble insulation. This arrangement is useful where it is desired to maintain a warm temperature of the kabobs but store a cold drink in the cup section.

Alternatively, the outside surface of the basin is covered with insulating bubble sheet and cracked ice is stored in the basin to maintain a low temperature of the beverage in the cup section.

As shown in fig. 7 and fig. 1, a false floor comprises an inverted channel 44 supported on the floor 48 of the container section 26. The length of the false bottom (i. e. , channel 44) is selected according to the number of short sticks to be supported.

A dike 50 on the floor of the container section 26 is shown which retains the juices and condiments that drain from the skewered food in the region of the container section 26 directly under the skewered food.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment in which a large opening 13 is formed in place of the array of smaller openings 40 shown in fig. 1. This arrangement permits storing bulk items, e. g., hamburgers 13, in the container section 26 inserted through opening 13.

Figs. 9A (tray section) and 9B (container section) show an embodiment directed toward a a food organizer similar to figs. 1A,B in that there is an array of apertures in the tray section for inserting kebobs and the false floor for supporting the lower ends of the kebobs. Fig. 3A is a side view of tray section fig. 9A and fig. 3B is a side view of fig. 9B. As shown in fig. 3A, the cup section 54 of fig. 9A, B has a floor 54A so that a drink may be poured directly into cup section 54. The diner may drink directly from the cup section 54 through a drinking straw.

An important feature of this invention is the ready accessibility of a napkin to the user and the arrangements of the invention for preventing the napkin from being soiled by juices from the meats and vegetables.

Figs. 1-9A, B describe one version in which the napkin is stored in a tunnel.

Fig. 10 is a perspective assembly view and fig. 11 is a perspective exploded view of another version of the organizer which also features (along with figs. 1-9 A, B) the advantage of the invention to store the napkin such as to prevent spoilage from dripping juices.

Fig. 10 shows a tray section 60 that"snaps"onto the container section 62. The tray section 62 is a panel having three depressions 64. Other embodiments have a greater or lesser number of depressions.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing that the napkin 66 occupies a space between the floor 63 of the container section 62 and the bottom of the depressions 64. As also shown in fig. 10, an opening 68 in the sidewall is dimensioned to permit a user to grasp a corner 66 (small section) of the folded napkin 66 protruding through the slot 68 and pull the folded napkin 66 through the opening 68 from the dispenser. The stored napkin is completely protected from drippage from the food items in tray section 24 because there are no openings in the tray section.

Fig. 10 shows a lid 63 over one of the depressions and a drinking straw 71 protruding out of the depression through the lid 63 providing that the depression may be used for dispensing beverage.

The opening 73 in the lid 63 for the straw 71 is preferably a small cut perpendicular to another small cut in the lid 63 wherein the cuts are sufficiently long to push a drinking 71 straw through the lid 63 Fig. 13 shows another embodiment in which a slot 70 is provided in the sidewall opposite the first opening 66. Opening 66 (for dispensing a napkin) is shown in phantom in fig. 13 in the opposite wall. The slot 70 has a long dimension oriented perpendicular to the tray section to enable a user to use the second slot as a handle for holding the dispenser in one hand at a convenient location (chest high).

According to the method of the invention, before the tray section 60 is positioned on the container section 62, the napkin 66 is placed in the open container section 62 with the corner of the napkin 66 extending through the opening. This operation is performed in a"mass assembly" operation before the tray section is positioned on the container. Then the tray section 60 is "snapped onto"the container section 62. The assembled dispenser is now ready for delivery to the restaurateur for depositing food items in the respective depressions. This method of delivering the napkin as a part of the organizer eliminates an extra step required of the diner to secure a napkin (separate from the organizer) when he begins to dine.

Fig. 14 is a list of steps for using the dispenser according to the method of this invention.

In step 1, an organizer is provided which comprises: 1 A container section having a sidewalk forming a frame with a floor; 2 A tray section being a panel with an edge that engages a top edge of the frame ; 3 At least one depression in the tray section having a depth to provide a space between a bottom of the at least one depression and the floor of the container section ; 4 An opening in the sidewalk dimensioned to permit drawing a napkin through the opening ; 5 A napkin; 6 An optional feature--A slot in the sidewalk opposite the first slot is formed with a long dimension perpendicular to the tray section whereby a handle is provided which enables a user to grasp said the container by the handle in one hand to support the organizer.

In step 2, the napkin is placed on the floor of the open container section with a corner of the napkin extending through the opening; In step 3, the tray section is placed onto the container section; In step 4, at least one item of finger food is deposited in at least one of the depressions.

In step 5, a user supports the organizer by grasping the handle in one of his hands; In step 6, the user applies another one of his hands to withdrawing the finger food from a respective depression and eating the withdrawn food.

In step 7, the user withdraws the napkin through said opening and applies the napkin to cleaning the person (hands, face) of the user.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY Features that are not available in food trays of the prior art characterize the organizer.

These features include embodiments for preventing silage of the napkin such as the version of space between depressions and the tunnel storage compartment. In both embodiments, the napkin is conveniently accessible A transverse dike on the floor of the box section 26 in combination with the napkin section is another unique feature that is effective in minimizing messines by preventing juices that drip from the kebobs from being soaked up by the napkins 22 stored in the other end of the container section 26.

These unique features also include the accessibility to kebobs on a stick where the meat and/or vegetable at one end of the stick is positioned inside an enclosure where it is prevented from rapidly losing heat yet the free end of the stick protruding from out of the respective aperture in the tray section is conveniently and cleanly accessible to the diner.

The arrangement is particularly advantageous for distributing kebobs from the organizer to several companions. In this situation the cup is used to retain a condiment that is shared by all of the companions in a very sanitary manner. Each companion simply withdraws his/her kabob and dips it once into the contents of the cup section.

The invention enables wide versatility for selecting food in a variety of forms.

For example, small cups of other food items such as pudding, ice cream or potato salad are positionable in the cup section or any one of the compartments on either side of the cup holder.

In this situation, it is convenient to store a plastic spoon or fork through one or more of the apertures in the tray section.

Dispensing of beverage is achieved with one or more lids that fit onto respective depressions.

Each lid has a hole arranged for inserting a drinking straw through the hole into the depression.

The organizer is produced economically being formed from plastic sheet, preferably teraphthalate but alternatively from any one of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or acetate, polypropylene. The sheet is preferably around 0.6 millimeters thick.

An economy in production and use of the organizer is effected by placing the napkin in the container section adjacent the slot before the tray section is positioned on top of the container section rather than attempting to stuff the napkin through the slot after the tray section is placed over the container section.

This very useful feature saves the restaurateur the inconvenience of having to"stuff'the napkin through the opening after the organizer is assembled. This also permits that the opening 68 for withdrawing the napkin is permitted to be much smaller than if the napkin were stuffed through the opening after the organizer is assembled. It also provides greater convenience to the user who is not required to secure a napkin as a separate operation and then hold the napkin in preparing to dine.

Due to the numerous advantages both in ease of use and operation and in economic considerations, it is expected that the present invention will have widespread and long lasting utility and applicability. In particular, the organizer of this invention will be adapted for use in cafeterias, social gatherings, vendor's stands such as are found at athletic events.

Other variations and modifications of this invention may be contemplated which are within the scope of this invention. I therefore wish to define the scope of my invention by the appended claims