Multi-function tray for aperitifs

Abstract

Multifunction tray for aperitifs The subject of the invention is a multifunction tray comprising: at least one first orifice (28), passing through the multifunction tray (10), adapted to receive a glass (14), at least one slot, of width less than 20 mm, connecting the first orifice (28) and the peripheral edge (26) of the multifunction tray, at least one holding hole (36) sized to allow the passage of a thumb (12.1) of a person (12), at least one first zone (42) located on the upper face (22) and surrounded by a barrier to collect a liquid or limit its spread outside the first zone (42). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Multifunction aperitif tray

[0001] The present application relates to a multifunctional aperitif tray.

[0002] At a reception, appetizers and drinks are served to people standing who are not seated at a table. For the latter, it is difficult to simultaneously hold a glass, an appetizer, a napkin and perform certain gestures.

[0003] The present invention aims to propose a multifunction tray comprising an upper face, a lower face parallel to the upper face and a peripheral edge connecting the upper and lower faces. According to the invention, the multifunction tray comprises at least one first orifice passing through the multifunction tray and adapted to receive a glass, at least one slot of width less than 20 mm connecting the first orifice to the peripheral edge, at least one holding hole sized to allow the passage of a person's thumb and at least one first zone located on the upper face and surrounded by a barrier to collect a liquid or limit its spread outside the first zone.

[0004] This multifunctional tray allows a person to hold it with one hand, the tray being configured to stably support different items such as a glass, an appetizer or a napkin for example.

[0005] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description of the invention which follows, a description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, among which:

[0006] [Fig-1] is a top view of a multifunctional aperitif tray illustrating an embodiment of the invention,

[0007] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the multifunction tray, visible in [Fig.l], held by a person,

[0008] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the multifunction tray visible in [Fig.l] equipped with a ring,

[0009] [Fig.4] is a section of the ring visible in [Fig.3],

[0010] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a multi-function aperitif tray illustrating another embodiment of the invention,

[0011] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a multifunctional aperitif tray illustrating another embodiment of the invention,

[0012] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a multifunctional aperitif tray illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

[0013] According to an embodiment visible in Figures 1 to 3, a multifunction tray 10 is held by a person 12 to support different elements chosen from at least one glass 14, at least one small container 16 containing food (such as a verrine for example), at least one napkin 18, at least one appetizer 20 or similar, at least one utensil (spoon, fork, knife). This list is not exhaustive.

[0014] For example, this multifunction tray 10 can be used during a reception, a cocktail party or other events.

[0015] This multifunction tray 10 has an upper face 22, a lower face 24 parallel to the upper face 22 and a peripheral edge 26 connecting the upper and lower faces 22, 24. This multifunction tray 10 has a thickness of the order of a few millimeters, between 3 and 10 mm for example.

[0016] This multifunctional tray 10 is made of a rigid, lightweight material, suitable for contact with food. This multifunctional tray 10 may be a single piece or comprise high-pressure laminated multilayers of the HPL type. According to a non-limiting embodiment, the multifunctional tray 10 is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shreds, derived from recycled products or objects. Of course, the invention is not limited to this material.

[0017] According to a configuration visible in Figures 1 to 3, the peripheral edge 26 comprises a succession of curves and / or segments and forms a closed contour of more or less complex geometry.

[0018] According to other configurations visible in figures 5 and 7, the peripheral edge 26 forms a rectangular outline with more or less rounded angles.

[0019] According to another configuration visible in [Fig.6], the peripheral edge 26 forms a circular contour.

[0020] Of course, the invention is not limited to these geometries for the peripheral edge 26.

[0021] The multifunction tray 10 comprises at least one first orifice 28 passing through the multifunction tray 10, opening out at the upper and lower faces 22, 24, as well as at least one slot 30 connecting the first orifice 28 to the peripheral edge 26.

[0022] The first orifice 28 is adapted to receive a glass 14, in particular a stemmed glass. It has a circular shape and has a diameter greater than 20 mm, preferably between 30 and 40 mm, in any case less than the body of the glass 14.

[0023] The slot 30 comprises at least one curved or rectilinear segment and has a width of less than 20 mm, of the order of 10 to 20 mm.

[0024] In operation, the base of the glass is inserted into the slot 30 from the peripheral edge 26 to the first orifice 28. At the latter, the glass 14 rests against the peripheral edge of the first orifice 28. To drink, the person 12 grasps the glass 14 and slides the base of the glass into the slot 30 from the first orifice 28 to the peripheral edge 26.

[0025] The multifunction tray 10 may comprise a single first orifice 28 provided with a slot 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, or several orifices, in particular two orifices 28, 28', as illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0026] According to one embodiment, the multifunction tray 10 is completed by at least one ring 32 which has an internal diameter d32 smaller than the diameter of the first orifice 28 and an external diameter D32 greater than the diameter of the first orifice 28. This ring 32 is configured to be positioned around a container 16, such as a verrine for example, which has a larger diameter smaller than the diameter of the first orifice 28. Without the ring 32, the container 16 would pass through the first orifice 28.

[0027] According to a configuration visible in [Fig. 3], the ring 32 is split and has a slot 34 to be able to increase its diameters. Thanks to the latter, the ring 32 can deform and adapt to containers 16 of different diameters.

[0028] The ring 32 can be made of the same material as the multifunction tray 10.

[0029] The multifunction tray 10 comprises at least one holding hole 36 sized to allow the passage of a thumb 12.1 of a person 12. This holding hole 36 has an ovoid shape. According to one configuration, the smallest dimension of the holding hole 36 is greater than the width of a thumb 12.1. This small dimension measures of the order of 30 mm. In operation, the person 12 inserts his thumb 12.1 into the holding hole 36 from the lower face 24. The base of the thumb 12.1 of the person 12 remains in contact with the lower face 24 while the end of the thumb 12.1 comes to bear against the upper face 22.

[0030] This holding hole 36 allows the person 12 to hold the multifunction tray 10 with one hand.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the multifunction tray 10 comprises at least one first oblong slot 38 of great length, configured to receive a napkin 18. To give an order of magnitude, the first oblong slot 38 has a width of the order of 7 to 10 mm and a length of the order of 70 to 120 mm. According to one arrangement, this first oblong slot 38 is diametrically opposite relative to the holding hole 36.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the multifunction tray 10 comprises at least one second oblong slot 40 of short length, configured to receive a utensil such as a small spoon. This second slot 40 may not be oblong. Whatever its shape, this slot 40 is sized so as to allow the passage of a portion of a utensil from the upper face 22 while blocking another portion of the utensil above the multifunction tray 10.

[0033] The multifunction tray 10 comprises at least a first zone 42 located on the upper face 22 and surrounded by at least one continuous contour 42.1 forming a barrier to collect a liquid or limit its propagation outside the first zone 42.

[0034] According to a configuration visible in Figures 1 to 3, the first zone 42 corresponds to a hollow shape relative to the upper face 22. According to this configuration, the first zone 42 is delimited by a flat surface 44, substantially parallel to the upper face 22 and offset towards the lower face 24 relative to the upper face 22, as well as by an edge 42.1 which makes it possible to prevent the propagation of a liquid outside the first zone 42.

[0035] According to other configurations visible in Figures 5 to 7, the first zone 42 has a flat surface 46 coplanar with the upper face 22. It is surrounded by a groove 48 which comprises two edges 48.1, 48.2 and a bottom 48.3. This groove 48 makes it possible to collect the liquids and to prevent them from spreading from the first zone 42 to other zones.

[0036] The first zone 42 may be rectangular as illustrated in [Fig.5], substantially triangular as illustrated in [Fig.6], substantially round as illustrated in [Fig.7] or be delimited by a contour with a complex geometry.

[0037] The multifunction tray 10 may comprise a single zone as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 or several zones 42, 42' as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 7.

[0038] According to a configuration visible in Figures 1 to 3, the multifunction tray 10 comprises first and second zones 42, 42' which are distinct and spaced apart, for example a first zone 42 intended for savory appetizers and a second zone 42' intended for sweet appetizers.

[0039] According to another configuration visible in [Fig.6], the multifunction tray 10 comprises a first zone 42 positioned in the second zone 42'.

[0040] Of course, the invention is not limited to these embodiments and configurations for the multifunction tray 10.

[0041] Whatever the embodiment, this multifunction tray 10 allows a person 12 to hold it with a single hand and to support different elements chosen from at least one glass 14, at least one small container 16 containing food (verrine for example), at least one napkin 18, at least one appetizer 20 or the like, at least one utensil (spoon, fork, knife).

Claims

Claims

1. Multi-function tray comprising an upper face (22), a lower face (24) parallel to the upper face (22) and a peripheral edge (26) connecting the upper and lower faces (22, 24), characterized in that the multi-function tray (10) comprises at least one first orifice (28) passing through the multi-function tray (10) and adapted to receive a glass (14), at least one slot (30) of width less than 20 mm connecting the first orifice (28) to the peripheral edge (26), at least one holding hole (36) sized so as to allow the passage of a thumb (12.1) of a person (12) as well as at least one first zone (42) located on the upper face (22) and surrounded by a barrier to collect a liquid or limit its spread outside the first zone (42).

2. Multifunction tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the multifunction tray (10) is completed by at least one ring (32) which has an internal diameter (d32) less than the diameter of the first orifice (28) and an external diameter (D32) greater than the diameter of the first orifice (28).

3. Multifunction tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ring (32) is split to be able to increase its diameter.

4. Multifunction tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first zone (42) is hollow and delimited by a flat surface (44), substantially parallel to the upper face (22) and offset towards the lower face (24) relative to the upper face (22), as well as by an edge (42.1) making it possible to prevent the spread of a liquid outside the first zone (42).

5. Multi-function tray according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first zone (42) is surrounded by a groove (48) for collecting liquids.

6. Multifunction tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multifunction tray (10) comprises several distinct and spaced zones (42, 42').

7. Multifunction tray according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the multifunction tray (10) comprises a first zone (42) positioned in the second zone (42').

8. Multifunction tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multifunction tray (10) comprises at least one

9. first oblong light (38) of great length configured to receive a towel (18). Multifunction tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multifunction tray (10) comprises at least one second light (40) configured to receive a utensil.

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