TITLE: SERVING TRAYS INCORPORATING WATERTIGHT DISPLAY

PORTION

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to serving trays, and in particular to serving trays usable for displaying advertising or other display material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hospitality service providers such as fast food restaurants, cafeterias, or food courts are prevalent in the community today. In such establishments, customers regularly use serving trays to carry purchased food items to their tables, and may further use the serving trays to hold the food items as they are consumed.

[0003] Serving trays provide opportunities to communicate information to customers by using the trays as a medium of communication. For example, some establishments imprint marketing information on the tray. Other establishments cover the tray with a disposable paper liner that presents information to customers, and which allows the information to be periodically changed. During use, the purchased food items may be placed on the liner as they are carried to tables and consumed. Once the food items are consumed, the liner may be disposed, and the tray cleaned for subsequent use. The trays may be manually cleaned, or automatically cleaned by using a dishwasher-like device.

[0004] Disposing the liner after each use tends to negatively impact the environment by wasting paper and ink. Furthermore, the use of disposable liners requires manual labor, as a new liner must be placed on the tray for each use.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for improved serving trays that overcome at least some of the disadvantages set forth above.

SUMMARY

[0006] One aspect of the invention is directed to a serving tray for display of sheet materials, the serving tray comprising a bottom tray member

having an upper surface, the upper surface having a generally planar display portion on which at least one sheet of display material may be received, and an upper engagement portion extending around the perimeter of the display portion, and a top tray member configured to be placed on the bottom tray member and cover the display portion of the bottom tray member, the top tray member having: a window portion sized and shaped so that at least part of the sheet of display material is visible through the window portion when the top tray member is placed on the bottom tray member and the display material is received on the display portion, and a lower surface having a lower engagement portion extending around the perimeter of the window portion, wherein the lower engagement portion is configured to engage the upper engagement portion when the top tray member is placed on the bottom tray member so as to releasably couple the top tray member to the bottom tray member and provide a watertight seal around the perimeter of the display portion to inhibit liquids from contacting the display portion.

[0007] One of the upper engagement portion and the lower engagement portion may have sealing ridges and the other of the upper engagement portion and the lower engagement portion may have sealing grooves, the sealing ridges being shaped to fit into the sealing grooves so as to provide the watertight seal.

[0008] The upper engagement portion may comprise a channel surrounding the display portion, the channel being shaped to receive a gasket to provide the watertight seal.

[0009] The lower engagement portion may comprise a channel surrounding the window portion, the channel being shaped to receive a gasket to provide the watertight seal.

[0010] One of the upper engagement portion and the lower engagement portion may further comprise a ridge sized and shaped to engage the gasket in the channel to provide the watertight seal.

[0011] The display portion on which the display material may be received may further comprise an indented area shaped to restrain the display material within the display portion.

[0012] The lower surface of the top tray member that engages and covers the display material received on the display portion may further comprise an indented area shaped to restrain the display material within the display portion.

[0013] The serving tray may further comprise a sidewall extending upwardly from at least one of the bottom tray member and the top tray member along at least a part of the perimeter of the serving tray so that objects placed on the tray are restrained from sliding off the sides of the tray.

[0014] The serving tray may further comprise a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom member and a retaining ledge extending inwardly along at least part of the sidewall, the retaining ledge sized and shaped for securing the top tray member to the bottom tray member.

[0015] The upper engagement portion of the bottom tray member may have at least one aperture extending through the bottom tray member, the at least one aperture being located adjacent to the perimeter of the bottom tray member, and the lower engagement portion of the top tray member may comprise at least one fastening knob, each fastening knob configured to fit into one of the at least one apertures so as to secure the top tray member to the bottom tray member.

[0016] The serving tray may be provided in combination with a decoupling device for facilitating decoupling of the top tray member from the bottom tray member.

[0017] The decoupling device may comprise a body portion and at least one decoupling pin extending upwardly from the body portion, each decoupling pin sized and shaped to fit into one of the at least one apertures and having a length selected such that when serving tray is placed onto the

decoupling device, the decoupling pins push the fastening knobs out of the apertures to decouple the top tray member from the bottom tray member.

[0018] The length of each decoupling pin may exceed the depth of the at least one aperture. [0019] Each fastening knob may have a length selected so as not to protrude through the at least one aperture.

[0020] At least one of the top tray member and the bottom tray member may comprise at least one handle.

[0021] The serving tray may further comprise releasable fasteners for releasably securing the bottom tray member to the top tray member.

[0022] One of the top tray member and the bottom tray member may comprise fastening ridges, and the other of the top tray member and the bottom tray member may comprise fastening grooves, the fastening ridges being shaped to fit into the fastening grooves so as to releasably secure the bottom tray member and the top tray member together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a serving tray according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0025] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the serving tray of

Figure 1 ; [0026] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom tray member of the serving tray of Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 4 is a top plan view of the bottom tray member of the serving tray of Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the top tray member of the serving tray of Figure 1 ;

[0029] Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the top tray member of the serving tray of Figure 1; [0030] Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the serving tray of

Figure 1 taken through line 7-7;

[0031] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a serving tray according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0032] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the serving tray of Figure 8;

[0033] Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the serving tray of

Figure 8;

[0034] Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of a serving tray in combination with a decoupling device according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and

[0035] Figure 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the serving tray and decoupling device of Figure 11.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Figures 1 to 7 generally show a serving tray 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The serving tray 10 has a top tray member 12 and a bottom tray member 14. As will be described in greater detail below, the serving tray 10 is generally configured for displaying sheet materials such as display material 18 in a watertight display portion so as to inhibit liquids from contacting the display member 18 during use. [0037] Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the bottom tray member 14 has an upper surface 20 that generally includes a display portion 22. The display portion 22 is generally planar, and is sized and shaped to receive one or more sheets of display material, such as the display material 18. The display material 18 could be paper or other material, and may include

advertisements, community service messages, organizational announcements, or generally a means of communicating any message and/or any other information.

[0038] The upper surface 20 of the bottom tray member 14 also has an upper engagement portion shown generally as 24 that extends around the perimeter of the display portion 22, as best shown in Figure 4. In some embodiments, the upper engagement portion 24 comprises sealing grooves 32 and a channel 34, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0039] As shown, the channel 34 may be sized and shaped so as to receive a gasket 16 therein to further assist in providing the watertight seal.

[0040] The top tray member 12 is generally configured to be placed on the bottom tray member 14 so as to cover the display portion 22 of the bottom tray member 14, while also generally allowing items (e.g. food items) to be carried thereon. [0041] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the top tray member 12 generally includes a window portion 26 sized and shaped so that least part of the sheet of display material 18 is visible through the window portion 26 when the top tray member 12 is placed on the bottom tray member 14 and the display material 18 is received on the display portion 22. In some embodiments, for example as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the window portion 26 spans substantially the entire top tray member 12.

[0042] In some embodiments, the window portion 26 may be divided into several sub-areas using a visible divider, such as frosting of the window portion 26 in certain areas so that sub-areas appear visually isolated from the display portion 22.

[0043] The top tray member 12 also has a lower surface 28 with a lower engagement portion indicated generally as 30 that extends around the perimeter of the window portion 26, as best shown in Figure 6. The lower

engagement portion 30 may include sealing ridges 36 and disposing ridges 35 as described in greater detail below.

[0044] The lower engagement portion 30 is generally configured to engage the upper engagement portion 24 when the top tray member 12 is placed on the bottom tray member 14 so as to releasably couple the top tray member 12 to the bottom tray member 14. Additionally, the lower engagement portion 30 and upper engagement portion 24 cooperate to provide a watertight seal around the perimeter of the display portion 22 so as to inhibit liquids from contacting the display portion 22 during use. [0045] In particular, the watertight seal tends to allow either manual or automatic cleaning of the serving tray 10 using liquid cleaners such as water or dishwashing soap without the liquid cleaners contacting the display material 18 received on the display portion 22.

[0046] As detailed in Figure 7, the upper engagement portion 24 has sealing grooves 32 and the lower engagement portion 30 has sealing ridges 36. The sealing ridges 36 are shaped to fit into the sealing grooves 32 so as to provide a watertight seal between the top tray member 12 and the bottom tray member 14.

[0047] In other embodiments, the lower engagement portion 30 may have sealing grooves while the upper engagement portion 24 has corresponding sealing ridge that cooperate to form the watertight seal.

[0048] The upper engagement portion 24 also has a channel 34 generally surrounding the display portion 22 in which the gasket 16 may be received. The lower engagement portion 30 has a disposing ridge 35 generally opposite the channel 34 and which is sized and shaped to engage or press against the gasket 16 in the channel 34 when the top tray member 12 is coupled to the bottom tray member 14, to further assist in providing the watertight seal.

[0049] In other embodiments, the lower engagement portion 30 may have a channel surrounding the window portion 26 where a gasket may be received, while the upper engagement portion 24 has a corresponding disposing ridge. [0050] The gasket 16 may be constructed of a flexible material or other material generally suitable for providing a watertight seal when engaged between the top tray member 12 and the bottom tray member 14.

[0051] As shown in Figure 7, in some embodiments an area of the display portion 22 on which the display material 18 is received may be indented (as indicated generally by 37) so that the display material 18 tends to be restrained within the display portion 22.

[0052] In other embodiments, an area of the lower surface 26 on the top tray member 12 may be indented so that the display material 18 tends to be restrained within the display portion 22. [0053] In some embodiments, the serving tray 10 may further include one or more sidewalls that extend upwardly from at least one of the bottom tray member 14 and the top tray member 12 along at least a part of the perimeter of the serving tray 10 so that objects placed on the tray 10 are restrained from sliding off the sides of the tray 10. [0054] For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, sidewalls 38 may extend upwardly from the bottom tray member 14 around the perimeter of the display portion 22. Additionally, as shown in Figure 7 the sidewalls 38 may further include one or more retaining ledges 39 that extending inwardly along at least part of the sidewalls 38. The retaining ledges 39 are sized and shaped to engage the upper surface of the top tray member 12 so as to further secure the top tray member 12 to the bottom tray member 14 during use.

[0055] In some embodiments, the upper engagement portion 24 of the bottom tray member 14 has at least one aperture 15 extending through the

bottom tray member 14, each aperture 15 located adjacent the perimeter of the bottom tray member 14. For example, as shown, the bottom tray member 14 may include a series of apertures 15 spaced apart around the perimeter of the bottom tray member 14. [0056] Similarly, the lower engagement portion 30 of the top tray member 12 may comprise at least one fastening knob 13. For example, as shown a series of fastening knobs 13 may be spaced apart near the perimeter of the top tray member 12 (exterior of the window 26), generally extending downwardly from the lower surface 28 of the top tray member 12. Each fastening knob 13 is generally sized and shaped so as to extend into one of the apertures 15 when the top tray 12 member and the bottom tray member 14 are coupled. In this manner the knobs 13 and apertures 15 cooperate and may tend to further secure the top tray member 12 to the bottom tray member 14. [0057] As shown, each knob 13 generally has a length selected so as not to protrude through the at least one aperture 15 when the knob 13 is received therein.

[0058] In some embodiments, at least one of the top tray member 12 and the bottom tray member 14 may also have at least one handle to assist in transportation of the tray 10. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the bottom tray member 14 has two handles 40 on opposing sides of the display portion 22.

[0059] Turning now to Figures 8 to 10, illustrated therein is a serving tray 50 according to another embodiment of the invention. The serving tray 50 has a top tray member 52 and a bottom tray member 54.

[0060] The bottom tray member 54 has an upper surface 56 that includes a generally planar display portion 58 on which at least one sheet of display material may be received. The upper surface 56 also has an upper engagement portion indicated generally as 60 and which includes sealing grooves 62 that extend around the perimeter of the display portion. The upper

engagement portion 60 also has sealing edge portions 64, and fastening grooves 66 generally aligned with and offset inwardly from the edge portions 64 of the serving tray 50.

[0061] Similar to the top tray member 12, the top tray member 52 has a window portion 68 that may span substantially the entirety of the top tray member 52. The window portion 68 is sized and shaped so that at least part of the sheet of display material is visible through the window portion 68 when the top tray member 52 is placed on the bottom tray member 54 and a sheet of display material is received on the display portion 58. In some embodiments, the display portion 58 of the bottom tray member 54 may be indented so that display material will tend to be restrained within the display portion 58.

[0062] The top tray member 52 also has a lower surface indicated generally by 70 that engages the bottom tray member 54 when the top tray member 52 and the bottom tray member 54 are coupled. The lower surface 70 has a lower engagement portion 74 that includes sealing ridges 76 and recessed edges 78 extending around the perimeter of the window portion 68.

[0063] The sealing ridges 76 are sized and shaped to be received by the sealing grooves 62 to form a watertight seal around the perimeter of the display portion 58 when the top tray member 52 is coupled with the bottom tray member 54. Furthermore, the recessed edges 78 are configured to engage the sealing edge portions 64 to assist in forming the watertight seal around the perimeter of the display portion 58 when the top tray member 52 and bottom tray member 54 are coupled. [0064] As shown, the top tray member 52 may also include fastening ridges 72 sized and shaped to be received in the fastening grooves 66 on the upper surface 56 of the bottom tray member 54 during use. The fastening ridges 72 and fastening grooves 66 cooperate and tend to secure the top tray member 12 to the bottom tray member 14.

[0065] As shown in Figure 8, the serving tray 50 may also have sidewalls 80 that extend upwardly from the top tray member 52 so that objects placed on the serving tray 50 are restrained from sliding off the side of the serving tray 50. The top tray member 52 is also shown having two handles 82 on opposite sides of the window portion 68.

[0066] Turning now to Figures 11 and 12, illustrated therein is a decoupling device 100 for use in combination with the serving tray 10 according to yet another embodiment of the invention. As detailed above, the serving tray 10 includes the top tray member 12 and the bottom tray member 14. The decoupling device 100 may generally be used to facilitate decoupling of the top tray member 12 from the bottom tray member 14.

[0067] As shown, the decoupling device 100 generally includes a body portion 102, which may be a plate or a plate-like or other suitable shape. The body portion 102 has an upper surface 104 generally configured for receiving the serving tray 10. The decoupling device 100 also includes at least one decoupling member 106 that extends upwardly from the upper surface 104 of the body portion 102. For example, as shown the decoupling members 106 may be decoupling pins 108 spaced apart around the perimeter of a plate-like body portion 102. [0068] Each decoupling pin 108 is generally positioned on the body portion 102 and sized and shaped to fit into one of the apertures 15 in the bottom tray member 14. Each decoupling pin 108 and has a length L selected such that when the serving tray 10 is placed onto the decoupling device 100, each decoupling pin 108 is received into one of the apertures 15 to push the fastening knobs 13 out of the apertures 15 to decouple the top tray member 12 from the bottom tray member 14 (indicated generally as 12a and shown in dashed lines in Figure 12).

[0069] In some embodiments, the length L of each decoupling pin 108 may be selected so as to exceed the depth D of the apertures 15 in the bottom tray member 14.

[0070] In some embodiments, each decoupling pin 108 may have a beveled or tapered leading edge 110.

[0071] In some embodiments, the serving trays as generally described herein may include one or more additional releasable fasteners for releasably securing the bottom tray member to the top tray member. For example, a serving tray may use hook and loop fasteners, snaps, hinges, locking tabs, and other fasteners for generally further securing the top tray member to the bottom tray member.

[0072] While the above description provides examples of one or more serving trays, it will be appreciated that other serving trays be within the scope of the present description as interpreted by one of skill in the art.