Supplemental Container Tray

Abstract

A molded rubber or polymer extrusion in the form of a supplement tray designed to fit onto the standard restaurant tray of varying sizes. The supplemental tray is designed to sit upon the surface of the tray, may or may not be secured along its edges, such as by overlapping the tray edge, to provide support for containment of empty beer bottles, cans, or any other beverage containers, through the use of upwardly extending raised compartments, generally semicircular of design, of the specific size and shape of the container to provide for their securement during handling and collection. The molded supplemental tray may cover to some extent the serving tray itself, whether it is approximately half, or less, of the serving tray, to allow for the collection of other spent containers, while a table is being cleared after consumption. The supplemental tray may also be designed as a resilient annulus, having at least one aperture provided therein, for resting upon the standard serving tray, and which may hold a container during usage.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This divisional patent application claims priority to the non-provisional patent application having Ser. No. 13 / 507,591, filed on Jul. 12, 2012, which this non-provisional patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61 / 572,126, filed on Jul. 12, 2011.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a flexible or semi-rigid covering, in the form of a Supplemental Container Tray, which may be used in conjunction with a serving tray, which provides support for the containment of bottles or other containers as being delivered to and from customers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Obviously, various types of serving trays have long been used in the culinary arts, and there are numerous devices, in the form of trays, to facilitate the transport of and delivery of bottles, cans, or even as used in the delivery of food to a table, but which may have supplemental usage for the delivery of con...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent aims to provide a simple mechanism for servers to easily support bottles while transporting them in a service area. The invention provides a supplemental tray that can be easily attached or removed from a standard serving tray, making it easier for servers to balance empty bottles or deliver different types of beverage bottles to customers' tables. The invention is also made of flexible and lightweight materials that can be placed on top of a serving tray and held in place by an extension of material that folds about or clamps onto the peripheral edge of the standard serving tray. This helps to minimize the accidental drops of glass bottles during transport in a restaurant or bar environment, resulting in fewer broken bottles due to spillage.

Problems solved by technology

What the prior art does not address is the specific problem of how to handle full or empty beer bottles, or cans, or containers, before or after consumption, and such is a constant nuisance to the waiter, and difficult to remove by the busboy, using a standard serving tray.

Empty beer bottles are not steady, and can be easily tipped when being removed from a restaurant service area.

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