Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARRY-OUT TRA'Y
Background of the Invention
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With'the dramatic increased popularity in recent
years of the fast-food type'restaurants, various means
have heretofore been provided to facilitate the handling
of the purchased food and beverage items by the customex !
Such means have'included conventional paper bags, folding
boxes, foil wrappers, and trays of various shapes and sizes.
The'instant invention is direc~ed to trays utilized for
this purpose.
Most of the more popular chains of fast-food
stores are provided with tables and seating for the customer
so that a significant amount of the food and beverage items
is consumed on the store premiseO As a convenience to
customers desi.ring to eat and drink on the premise, the
ordered items are normally placed on either a reusable or
disposable tray at the service counter and then carri~d
by the customer to a selected location within the store
interior or out to the patio benches and tables provided
on the 'outside of the store. '
Various types o~ reusable tra~s formed o wood,
plastics, or metal have heretofore been provided for this
purpose;' however, such trays are'costIy; are hlghly
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susceptible to being lost, stolen, or bxoken; in order to
comply with various pu~lic health and sanitary rules and
ordinances, each tray must be cleaned hefore beiny reused,
and thus r~quires an inordinate amount of manual labor;
adequate storage space must be provided for the trays; and
the supply of trays must be continuously replenished because
of loss, theft, and damage so as to handle varying volumes
of business.
For the foregoing reasons, the use of disposable
trays has become increasinyly popular. ~arious trays o~
this general type have been provided in the past; however,
beca.use of certain design characteristics they have been
beset by one or more of the following shortcomings:
a) they were costly and difficult to manufacturei b) they
were not bio-degradable or no~ capable of being recycled;
c) they were inhexently weak and awkward to handle; d~ they
were incapable of properly accommodating various size b~ver-
age containers; e) they could not be nested with similar
trays so as to form a compact stack suitable for storage
by or shipment to the store operator; and f) they required
presetting-up before they could be used by the customer.
Summary of the Invention
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide
a molded carry-out tray which avoids all of the aforenoted
shortcomings,
It is a further object to provide a carry-out
tray which can readily accommodate a variety of articles
and is formed of an inexpensive, lightweight, insulative
material.
It is a still fu.rther object to provide a carry-
out tray which, when loaded, can be conveniently carried
by one hand of the customer.
Further and additional objects will appear from
the. description, accompanying drawings,- and appended claims.
933;2
In accordance with one embodim~nt o the invention,
a molded carry-out tray is provided for use in accommodating
cup-shaped containers which vary in size and shape within
a predetermined range. The tray is provided with at least
one recessed pocket for removably accommodatiny and main-
taining a cup-shaped container within a pr~determined size
range in an upright position while the tray is disposed in
a substantially horizontal plane. The pocket includes a
base section which subtends and supportingly engages the
bottom of an accommodated container. Extending divexgently
upwardly from the base section are walls which terminate
at a common plane disposed at a predet'ermined elevation
relative tc the base section~ 'Disposed between adjacent
walls and interconnecting corresponding portlons thereof
are corner sections which are connected to peripheral
segments of the 'base sec'tion and extend upwardly therefrom.
At least one of the corner sections terminates at the
common plane and coacts with th walls to form at least a
three-sided open top through whi'ch the lower portion of the
container is inserted. Each wall includes an upper segment
having the'opposite'sides thereof integrally connected to
adjacen't corner sections. In addition, each wall includes
an outwardly yieIdable lower segment which depends from
the upper segment. The lower segment has a lower edge
which is adjacent to, but spaced froml the periphery of
the base sectionO The side edges of the lower segment
extend upwardly from opposite ends of the lower edge and
are spaced from corresponding side portions of the adjacent
corner sections. Each corresponding side portion of a
corner section is provided with an offset ledge which extends
inwardly towards the center of the pocket and is spaced
downwardly from the'common plane.
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Description
For a more complete understanding of the invention
reference should be made to the 'drawings wherein
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the
improved carry-out tray.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevational and bottom views,
respectively, of the tray of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an en'larged ~ragmentary top perspective
view of one of the pockets provided in the tray o~ FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view
taken along line'5-5 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view
taken along line 6-6 of ~IG. 1. '
FIGS. 7 and 8 are'top plan and side elevational
views, respectively, of a second embodiment of the improved
carry-out tray. '
FIG$o 9 and 10 are top plan and side'elevational
views, res'pecti~eIy, of a ~hird embodiment of the improved
carry-out tray.
- FIG. 11 is a top plan view of one of the pockets
embodiea in the tray and showing in concentric phantom
lines the relative positions of the lower ends of three
standard size cup-shaped containers, commonly used in ~ast-
food restaurants for dispensing beverages to the customers,
with respect to the walls defining the pocket~
FIG~ 12 is a top plan view of a fourth
embodiment of the improved carry-out tray.
FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 4 and is a fragmentary
perspecti~e top view of the carry-out tray of FIG~ 12.
FIG5~ 14-17 are fragmentary enlarged sectional
views taken res'pectiveIy along lines' 14-14, 15-15, 16-16,
and 17-17 o FIG. 12~ '
Referrin~ now ,to the drawings and more'particularly
to FIGS. 1-3, one'form 20 of the improved carry-out tray is
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. 5
shown which is preferably formed of a molded pulp material.
Such material is particularly suitable becau5e it is in-
expensive and possessed of good thermal insulative properties.
Other forms 120 and 220 and 320 of the carry-owt tray are
shown in FIGS~ 7 and 9 and 12, respectively, and will be
described more fully hereinafter.
Tray 20, as illustrated in FIG~ l, is provided
with four recessed pockets Pl, P2, P3, 4
which are o~ like configuratiorl and thus, only one of the
pockets will be described in detail hereina~ter. The pockets
are symmetrically arranyed about the center C of the tray.
Each pocket is separated from an adjacent pocket by a shallow
depression D which is substantially wedye-shaped with the
narrow end Dl therebf adjacent the tray center C.
Each pocket is reces'sed a like amount from a
common plane A which'is defined by the open tops of the
pockets. The plane A is delimited by a depending peripheral
flange F which provides' added stiffness and strength to the
tray, thereby facilitating manual handling of a loaded tray.
Each pocket of the tray 20, 120, 220, or 320 may
be of the same basic design. In the illustrated embodiments,
each pocket is three-sided and includes a base section 21
which is adapted to subtend and supportingly engage the
bottom of a container X, Y, Z. The container, in this
instance, is of a conventional cup-shape, and is of a type
commonly utilixed by fast-food operators for dispensing
beverages in small, medium, and large quantities. The side
wall of the container is generally tapered so a5 to permit
nesting of like size containers. The lower end of the side
wall defines an annular bottom or end wallO
Extending divergently upwardly from the base
sec'tion 21 of the'pocket are walls 22, 23, 24. Disposed
between adjacent walls and connected thereto are corner
sec'tions 25, 26, 27. The'upper edges' of the walls and
corner sec'tions terminate in plane A and coact with'one
another to form the'open top for the'pocket. Each'pocket
wall is preferably of like'configuration and, as see'n in
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FIG. 6 r includes an upper seyment 28 having the opposite
side edges thereof integrally connected to the adjacent
corner sections 25, 27. Integral with and depending from
the wall upper segment 28 is an outwardly yieldable lower
segment 30. 'The outward yieldability of the lower seyment
30 permits the pocket to readily accommodate the medium
and large size containers Y, Z, as well as the small size X,
see FIG. ll. The 'lower segment 30 has the lower edge 30a
thereof disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, the periphery
of base 'section 21. Lower segment 30 is also provided with
side edges 30b whi'ch extend upwardly from opposite ends of
the lower edge 30a. The side edges 30b are spaced from
corresponding side portions 25a, 27a of the corner sections
by an elongated slot or slit S. As illustrated, the upper
end of each'slot may terminate'at approximatel'y the mid-height
of the walls. 'If desired, the'interior surface of the lower
segment 30 ~h~'t is the'surface 'facing towards the center
of the pocket), may have'the 'center portion thereof'provided
with a slight concave configurationO The curvature of the
center portions of the lower segment in~erior surfaces may
partially conform to the'curved exterior of the side wall
of the small size'container X and thus, engage same and
provide 'resilient lateral support for the'accommodated con-
tainer even though the container is inserted into and removed
from the pocket several times. It is desirable that the
center portion of the lower segment interior surface be only
slightly curved so as not to impair the outward yielda~ility
of the lower segment or cause the lower segment to assume a
permanent set.
As noted in FIG. 4, the peripheral portions 21a
of the ~ase section, which are adjacent the lower edyes
30a of the wall lower segments 30,,are recessed a small
amount so as to facilitate molding o~ the tray with con- -
ventional moldin~ equipment.
Each'side'portion 25a,,27a of the corner sections
25, 27 has the'upper end thereof offset inwardly so as to
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form a ledge 1, see FIG. 5. The relative location of the
ledges within a pocket is such as to provide lateral side
wall support for the large size container Z when ~he latter
is inserted to the fullest extent into the pocket. When
the large size container is accommodated in the pocket, the
wall lower segments 30 are ou-twardly deflected subs-tantiall.y
the maximum amount.
As will be observed in FIG. 6,.,the lower end of
the coxner section is ma.de in-tegral at 21b w.ith the perlphery
of the base 'section 21 and thus, provides support for the
base section~
FIGS. 7~8 and 9-lO disclose modified forms 120,
220 o~ the improved trays, which besides pockets Eor beverage
containers, also include enlarged recessed areas R for
accommodating items such as sandwiches or the' like. The
pockets in trays 120~' 220 are preferably of the type prev
iously described with'respect to tray 20. As will be observed,
in tray 120 only two pockets Pl, P2 are pro~ided, both'being
disposed to one side of reces'sed area R. If desired, tray
120 could be modified 50 that the two pockets would be
separated by the 'rec'essed area. The 'depth of t~.e recessed
area R in both'trays should preferably be the'same as the
depth of the pockets; thus, enabling each tray to assume a
stable 'horizontal position when resting upon a supporting
surface.
In tray 220, two pairs of pockets Pl, P2, and
P3, P4 are provided and disposed on opposite sides of
recessed area R. While'only four pockets are shown in tray
220, it i5 to be understood that the number of pockets may
be increased or decreased from that shown. Furthermore,
the configuration of the area R may also be changed from
that shown.
The recessed area in both tra~s includes a sub~
stantially planar floox sec'tion 50 whi'ch is delimited by
upwardly diverging wall sections 51, 52 and corner sections
53 which'interconnec't the'latter~ 'The recessed area R is
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separated from the pockets by a land section 54 which is
substantially coplanar with the open tops of the pockets.
FIGS. 12-17 disclose a fourth embodiment 320 of
the improved carry out tray and is particularly suitable
where the loaded tray is likely to be manually carried by
one hand of the customer or the person serving the customer.
One handed manipulation of the loaded tray is a common
occurrence in fast-food operations when the loaded tray is
being passed by the server through a drive-up window to a
cus~omer sitting in a vehicle.
Tray 320 in the illustrated embodiment is provided
with four pockets Pl, P2, P3, and PA which are syr~etrically
arranged about a center portion C. As in the case of tray
20, the poc~ets of tray 320 are preferably of like con-
struction, and each has a configuration similar to thatdescribed with respect to tray 20. For con~enience in
understanding the pocket structure, parts thereof corres-
ponding to the pocket parts of tray 20 will be given the
same identifying numbers but in a 300 series~ In tray 320,
the pocket walls 322 which are symmetrically arranged about
the recessea base section 321, extend divergently upwardly
therefrom and terminate in a common plane A. The walls of
each pocket in tray 320 are interconnected by corner sections
325-27. Corner section 326 is disposed in close proximity '
to the center portion C of the tray and projects upwardly
from base section 321 and terminates in plane A. The re-
maining two corner sections 325, 327 are disposed in close
proximity to a raised peripheral rim Q which encompasses
the tray. Rim Q, as seen more clearly in FIG. 14, has the
upper surface thereof defining a second common plane B.
Plane B is at a greater elevation relative to the pocket
base section 321 than plane A. The raised rim Q is con-
tinuous throughout and thus, adds si~nificantly to the
rigidity o~ the tray 320.
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As noted in FIG. 13, corner sections 325, 327
merge into the innex segment Q' defining the rim Q. The
outer segment Q" of the rim Q exten~s downwardly and out-
wardly a slight amount, see FIGS. 14, 17. Preferably the
outer segment Q" ~epends a grea~er distance from plane B
-than the spacing between planes A and B.
Adjacent pockets in tray 320 are separated from
one another by relatively w.ide planar lands K which extend
in substantially radial d.irections from the center por~ion
C of the tray 320. The outer distal portion of each land
K terminates in a broad depression T which is shaped to
conveniently accommodate the thumb sf the person carrying
the tray. The depres'sion is separated from an adjacent
pocket by a narrow substantially solid rib 360, see FIG. 15.
The side of the rib adjacent the pocket is formed by the
upper segment 328 of one of the walls of the pocket. Ea~h
rib ex'tenas from the outer end of land K to the inner wall
Q' of peripheral rim Q; thus, providing substantial stiffness
to the center' portion C of the tray.
The center portion C of. the'tray is provided with
a raised segment C' having the upper exposed surface there-
o~ substantial3.y flush with plane B 7 see FIG. 14. When
tray 320 is formed of molded pulp, the raised segment C'
serves an important function during forming of the tray in
preventing sag or distortion of the center portion C while
the tray is disposed in an inverted position on a d,rying
ConVeyoL or rack.
Symmetrically arranged about the raised segment
C' and extending radially and downwardly from segment Clto
center portion C are a plurality of fillet-like protuberances
C" which prevent sticking toget'her of a plurality of like
trays when the'latter are 'arranged in nested relation for
storage or bulk shipping.
As seen in FIG. 12,,each'pocket has a triangular
configuration and is so arranged wlthin the tray that one
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of the three side walls thereof is disposed adjacent ~
peripheral corner of the tray 32~. The upper edge of such
wall is spaced from the tray corner but is connected to the
inner surface Q', of the rim ~ by a second land K'. Lands K
and K' are substantially coplanar with one another and with
plane A and thus, effectively re-tain the open tops of the
pockets in proper spaced relation to each other and to the
peripheral rim.
It wil.l be noted in FIG. 12 that the width o~
the rim Q in the vicinity of the depress:ion T is greater
than the width of the rema.inder of the rim and thus provides
added stiffness to the rim at the depressions T and also --
facilitates denesting of the trays when arranyed in nested
relation.
As aforenoted the structure of the pockets in
both trays 20, 320 is substantially the same and each
pocket wall includes a lower segment 30~ 330 and an upper
segment 28, 328. The'opposite'sides of the wall upper segment
are integrally connected to the adjacent corner sections
25, 26, 27, or 325, 326, 327 so that the open top of the
pocket will maintain a desired shape and will resist
distortion. The lower segment 28, 328, on the other hand,
is connected only to the wall upper segment and the bottom
edge of the lower segment is spaced vertically'outwardly
from the periphery of the base section 321 and the side
edges of the lower segment are spaced laterally from the
adjacent corner sections. By reason of this arrangement
the wall lower segments are yieldable outwardly so as to
readily accommodate various size beverage containers or
30 the like which are placed within the various pockets~ Further-
more, by reason of the wall lower segment being connected
to only the wall upper segment and not to either the base
section or the adjacent corner sections as well, the lower
segment when contacted by the'accommodated container will
3s not take a permanent set whi'ch would impair the capability
of the wall seyments to exert a resilient contact with the
accommodated container even though the la~er is repeatedly
removed from the pocket.
In all forms of the carry out trays 20, 120, 220,
and 320 herei'n described, the pockets, recessed ar~as,
depressions, and peripheral rlms thereo~ have tapered
interior and exterior wall surfaces, thereby enabling a
plurality of like trays to be closely nested together so
as to form a compact stack or bundle, sui~able for bulk
storaye and for shipping. The ].edges L and the solid ribs
360 serve to prevent over-~compacting of the trays in a
stack which might otherwise present a denesting prohlem.
While the'pockets herei'n illustrated and descri~ed
have a tapered triangular or three-sided configurakion, it
is to be understood, however, that the invention hereinafter
claimed is not to be limited thereto. Square, hexagonal, or
octagonal shaped pockets may also be'utilized and will depend
to a larye'extent on the'shape and size of the containers
to be acco~modated in the tray pockets. Furthermore, the
number of pockets and ~heir location to each other or to
other rec'es'sed areas may be varied from that shown without
departing from the scope of the invention.
The improved carry-out tray is of simple inexpensive
construction, is sturdy and convenient to manually carry when
loaded. It is readily nestable with other like trays for
storage or shipping and does not require any manual s~tting
up before use.
We claim:
