Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a catering tray for holding food and catering items.

Background to the invention

The inventor is aware of the need for small catering trays for use by airlines and during cocktail type catered events such as conferences. Typically ceramic plates are used at cocktail type events instead of trays. For cocktail catered type of events such trays should be lightweight to be wielded together with a wine type glass with one hand and it should be dimensioned to also hold at least a small plate. The tray should be reusable. Airline catering trays are plastic and are normally washed for reuse.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight reusable catering tray which is suitable for use at cocktail type functions and events as well as airline catering trays.

General description of the invention

According to the invention there is provided a catering tray, which includes: a generally rigid base layer of a paper or plastics sheet; a second plastics layer to provide a smooth upper surface for the tray; a rim provided about the edge of the base layer to provide a low profile barrier about the upper surface of the base layer; and the second plastics layer being configured to removably receive a third layer of flexible plastics sheet material adhering to the smooth upper surface without adhesives. The second plastics layer may include an epoxy having an elastic plastic elastomer formulation to adhere to flat surfaces on an adhesive free basis. The formulation may include a cold self-curing Epoxy A100 with, a B33 component and elastomeric. It is to be appreciated that glasses and cutlery can be easily used with a low chance of spilling or dropping the glass etc. The inventor believes the adherence or dry static binding is caused by vacuum (micro suction) between the surfaces due to the resistant resilient deformability of the surface. The third layer may also bind to the second layer’s surface. No residue is left behind when removed. Instead, the base of matching crockery may be flattened, or be provided with the elastic plastic elastomer formulation to adhere to flat surfaces on an adhesive free basis.

For the third layer, it is to be appreciated that the non-adhesive adhering may alternatively use the effect of electrostatic or van der Waals forces, which requires smooth opposing surfaces, of which one is of a thin flexible plastics sheet such as polypropylene.

The base layer may be of corrugated cardboard, or corrugated plastics sheets such as extruded polypropylene sheets. Typical dimensions would be between 150mm to 300mm by 150mm to 300mm.

Alternatively, the second layer may be of a PVC, vinyl or a polypropylene plastics sheet, which is adhered to the upper surface of the base layer by means of heat or adhesives.

The base of matching crockery may be flattened, or be provided with the elastic plastic elastomer formulation as described above to adhere to flat surfaces on an adhesive free basis on the second layer.

Graphics may be printed on the upper surface of the base layer or second layer. It is to be appreciated that advertisements, venue details, logos, menus, event details and the like may be printed, which will be visible to the user. The third layer may be of thin clear see through flexible plastic sheets such as polypropylene, which will removably adhere to the upper surface without adhesives. The third layer may preferably be dimensioned to have a larger surface area than the rimmed base layer’s upper surface to overhang the rim, in use. The tray can then be covered by the third layer, handed out to users and used for catering purposes. After use, the third layer can easily be removed and discarded or recycled, leaving the tray clean and reusable without the need to be washed. Should the tray be damaged or soiled it can also be discarded or recycled due to its low cost. In use a user will hold the tray and a wine glass on top of tray, with one hand, leaving the other hand free for eating, drinking and socialising.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows plan view of a catering tray, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a cross sectional side view of the tray.

Referring now to the drawings, the catering tray, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The catering tray 10 includes a generally rigid base layer 12 of a rectangular 150mm by 200mm corrugated carboard sheet with graphics printed thereon. A second clear polypropylene plastics layer 16 is adhered with an adhesive to the upper surface of the base layer 12 to provide a smooth upper surface for the tray 10. A bead 18 provides a rim about the edge of the base layer to provide a low-profile barrier about the upper surface of the base layer 12. The smooth upper surface of the second layer 16 provides a smooth adherence surface for receiving and adhering to a removable third layer 14 of flexible polypropylene plastics sheet material. The third layer 14 is dimensioned to be 190mm by 240mm and of thin clear see through flexible polypropylene plastic sheets, which will removably adhere to the upper surface without adhesives.

In another embodiment, the second plastics layer 16 includes an epoxy having an elastic plastic elastomer formulation to adhere to flat surfaces on an adhesive free basis. The formulation includes a cold self-curing Epoxy A100 with, a B33 component. An elastomer may be mixed with the epoxy for certain applications. The tray can be used for cocktail functions with items such as a glass sticking to the surface to allow a person to use the tray and the glass with one hand. In addition, the third layer 14 may also bind to the surface and used as a cover to easily clean the tray by simply removing and replacing the third layer 14 after use.

It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.