Nestable integrated food tray with waste collection feature

Abstract

A nestable and integrated food tray with waste collection feature includes a housing, an integrally connected and pivotal bottom, the housing includes a top surface that has a pocket for holding food product, at least one integral pouch for holding condiment(s), and a reinforced opening within the top that allows entrance into the tray, for deposit of waste material. The tray is fully contoured around its perimeter, including its various pockets, to assure that a plurality of such trays may be stacked one upon the other when nested for shipment and storage. The bottom is pivoted laterally, to allow for nesting of a plurality of such trays as required.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part of the design application for patent having Serial No. 29 / 310,155, which was filed on Jul. 29, 2008, which issued on Sep. 22, 2009, and now bears U.S. Pat. No. D600,503.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to the display and processing food, and more particularly to a food tray that has all of its structure integrated into a singular form, so as to accommodate the nestability of the trays during shipment and storage, before usage, and which tray incorporates a waste collection feature that allows for the in situ disposal of residue waste as the food is being consumed.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to a food tray with waste collection features.[0004]As is known in the art, the concept of preparing a food tray, for the conveyance of food products, is quite well known, and is extensively used, particularly in fast food businesses. For example, variou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]As is well known in the industry, and particularly in fast food establishments, but more especially at stadiums where sporting events of football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and the like, are performed, the concession industry is a very lucrative part of such events, and frequently the profit is made at those locations during sporting activities. Hence, it is desirable to have a smaller sized tray, that is of integrated structure so that all of its usable components are assembled together, and which can be readily set up for reception of, for example, chicken wings, chicken strips, nachos, and any of the other variety of appetizer-type foods, that can be readily assembled, displayed, the accompanying condiments readily provided, so that the purchaser can conveniently carry the entire item back to his / her seating location, while not being inconvenienced while conveying such delicate food products and displayed condiments, when readied for consumption. In addition, the concept of this invention is to provide an integrated structure, where its housing portion that integrally has molded therein the various spacings for the food product, whether it be any one of those as identified, and to have small integral condiment pockets, either for holding condiments directly, such as ketchup, mustard, ranch dressing, bleu cheese dressing, barbeque sauce, or any of the variety of condiments that are consumed in association with such food product, can be conveniently deposited, or the cup holding the same can be inserted therein. Thus, the tray of this invention is conveniently designed for holding all of the usable elements associated with the consumption of these types of appetizers so they can be readily displayed, consumed, and then have the added advantage of allowing for deposit and collection of any waste matter, internally of the assembled tray, so that no waste is deposited on the ground or floor, as usually occurs at sporting or other events, or even at the movie theater, where such appetizers are marketed.

[0031]Another object is to provide a food tray where all of its various components are integrated together so that the food clerk does not have to look around for other elements to attain closure and their usage, such as those food trays that have a separate lid that must be applied individually before their usage.

Problems solved by technology

And, when the consumer desires to carry a number of beverages, a good number of sandwiches, French fries, milkshakes, and even some desserts, back to the vehicle, it is impossible for a single purchaser to be able to convey such a plurality of items individually.

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