EP1105025B1 - Serving tray - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a serving tray which is equipped with the plates, cutlery and cups required for a standard meal. Said tray consists of a tray part (2) having moulded-on compartments (2) and a lid (3) joined to the tray part in a pivoting manner. In its closed end position the lid covers the compartments and, partly, the tray part. In its open end position it uncovers the compartments and forms an additional useable surface. Plates, cutlery and cups are specially shaped for use with the tray.

Description

The invention relates to a serving tray with the for Standard catering required plates, cutlery items and drinking vessels that have a tray part with at least a molded trough and one rotatable with the trough connected flap includes.

In situations where it is as rational as possible Food distribution arrives, for example in airplanes, Hospitals etc., serving trays are used, on which, if possible, all necessary for the catering Parts. So far, conventional ones have been used for this purpose Trays and accessories used. this has several disadvantages. The tray has space reasons usually the smallest possible dimensions where Plates, cutlery and drinking vessels have just enough space. However, this has the consequence that the tray when eating too is small, so individual pieces of cutlery, vessels or even Parts of the food are placed or placed next to the tray Need to become. This increases the risk of knocking over or falling of drinking vessels or cutlery and the associated soiling of clothing.

Even when clearing has such a minimized Tray too little space for everything if the original optimized arrangement of all parts is no longer given. Individual parts, especially packaging etc., must be separate be collected. This represents a significant additional burden of the operating personnel.

Another disadvantage of conventional cutlery is in that their handling is designed for a situation is in which the person eating at the table has enough space for has the necessary movements. In cramped situations Difficulties often arise with these cutlery poorly mastered by less skilled users can be.

Another disadvantage in the context described is that traditional shape of the drinking vessels. When serving and when Clearing them are usually lying on the tray. Due to their cylindrical shape they tend to be on the Tray back and forth and not seldom from the tray to roll down.

DE-U-8 707 605 is a tray-like food container known, which has a fold-out storage part on which leftovers of packaging and the like. This Storage part forms an additional part when opened Volume that has to be emptied before closing, because it is not available when it is closed. This is a disadvantage of the temporary Availability of an additional shelf was not weighed becomes.

The invention has for its object a serving tray to provide the disadvantages described does not have.

According to the invention, this is solved with a tray that is characterized in that the flap from a in its closed end position covering the trough and one that partially covers the tray part Cover exists, and that the hood covering the trough of the Fold open under the bottom of the Trogs is located.

Fig. 1

ein erfindungsgemässes Serviertablett;

Fig. 2

das Tablett im aufgeklappten Zustand;

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt entlang III-III durch das Tablett;

Fig. 4

die Unteransicht eines Tellers;

Fig. 5 - 8

Besteckteile und

Fig. 9 - 10

Trinkgefässe.

In the following an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it

Fig. 1

a serving tray according to the invention;

Fig. 2

the tray when opened;

Fig. 3

a section along III-III through the tray;

Fig. 4

the bottom view of a plate;

5 - 8

Cutlery and

9-10

Drinking vessels.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the serving tray consists of a fixed base 1 and one rotatable on this hinged flap 2. The base part 1 is divided into a flat rectangular tray part 3 with a bottom 4 and on three sides surrounding walls 5. The surface of the bottom 4 is with ribs 6 arranged in a grid Mistake. On the fourth side of the tray part 3 is a Trough 7 with a square cross section and another trough 8 with partially cylindrical cross-section formed. The first trough 7 is from the tray part 3 through a wall perpendicular to the floor 9 separated, which is higher than the other walls 5. Opposite this vertical wall is the trough 7 by an oblique Wall 10 and on the two ends by appropriate trapezoidal walls 11 limited.

The subsequent round trough 8 has a fully circular shape End walls 12. The long upper edges of the two troughs 7, 8, as well as the upper edges of the end walls of the angular trough 7 lie in one plane. The circular end walls 12 of the round troughs protrude beyond this level.

The hinged flap 2 consists of a flat rectangular lid 13 and a longitudinally integrally formed thereon Hood 14 with a partially cylindrical cross section and fully circular end walls 15. The hood 14 has one Inner diameter that is slightly larger than that Outside diameter of the round trough 8 and is also slight longer than the latter, so that they embrace this outside can.

The hood 14 is on the round trough 8 by means of short pivot bolts 17 through the centers of the adjacent circular End walls rotatably attached. Through this rotatable Attachment can flap 2 between that shown in Fig. 1 closed position and that shown in FIG open position. When you open the The outer edge of the hood is pushed under the trough 8. The opening movement is limited by two stops: firstly, the outer edge of the hood hits the Sloping wall of the angular trough 7 and second has the flat lid 13 two over the inner edge of the hood 14th protruding extensions, which when opened on the outer Edge of the round trough 8 come to rest. This Stops are coordinated so that when fully opened State of the lid 13 is horizontal.

In the closed position, the outside of the Troughs 8 and the hood 14 together form an approximately cylindrical one Surface that acts as a convenient handle for carrying the Serving trays. The joint between the round trough 8 and the sloping wall of the angular trough 7 allows extensive Reaching around this cylindrical gripping surface and with it a safe holding and carrying the tablet. The two outer edges of the trough and the hood have in the closed position a distance of about half Centimeters from each other, in order to cause a stifling of the To avoid skin. On the top edge of the vertical wall of the angular trough two cams 40 are provided, which in closed state of the flap 2 in corresponding recesses of the cover. This will cause a move the flap 2 relative to the base part 1 when worn of the tablet prevented.

The two troughs 7, 8 are in the closed position covered by cover 13 and hood 14 and form thus elongated closed chambers.

In the open position, the two troughs 7, 8 are open, and the cover 13 forms an enlargement of the usable area of the tablet.

1 and 2 is also shown how the serving tray equipped with plates, cutlery and drinking vessels is. Of course, the equipment shown is only as Example thought and can be modified at any time become. On the tray part 3 there are two small plates 18, 19 and a large plate 20. The plates are rectangular and have a grid-like attachment on their underside Grooves 21 that fit on the ribs 6 and the sliding of the Prevent plates on the tray. The edges of the plates are like this high that they lie in the plane that goes through the top edges of the two troughs is defined. That way comes the lid in the closed state in that shown in Fig. 1 Plate arrangement over the two small plates lie and holds them immovably.

The cutlery 22 is, as can be seen in FIG. 2, in the round trough 8. In this way it is not necessary pack the cutlery separately in a foil cover. To The cutlery can be finished in one the trough and all waste, packaging parts etc. in the other Trough are supplied. As a result, there is hardly any Risk of such parts falling off the tray when cleared and have to be collected separately afterwards.

That from a knife 23, a fork 28, a tablespoon 31 and a teaspoon 32 existing cutlery 22 is shaped that it is optimal with little space-consuming movements can be used as intended. With that in mind form a functional unit with the tray.

The knife 23 has a compared to the handle 24 by about 30 ° angled blade 25. This makes it possible to Cutting movement from the wrist without large arm movements make. The blade has on both sides sharpened blades 26 to use right and left handed to become. The handle 24 has an approximately triangular shape Cross section so that the knife on the plate with the Blade remains in the correct cutting position. In addition, the handle on the inside with a ergonomic thumb recess 27 provided for handling to make it more convenient. A curve shape serves the same purpose the cutting.

The fork 28 has strongly curved teeth 29 the dishes are in the vertical to the tray Skewered in the direction so that none on the plate lateral force acts, which make it slip would. It also eliminates the need to operate the fork out of the wrist without too much arm movement. Due to the curved shape, the fork is also particularly suitable for a scooping process. Owned on the back the handle is an ergonomic finger recess 30.

The two spoons 31, 32 are shaped so that they laterally can be used to avoid major arm movements. In addition, the small spoon 32 is angled so that it is lighter and without laborious movement in tight spaces Drinking vessels can be used.

Has a cup 33 especially suitable for the tray an oval bottom 34, which together with an ergonomic shaped handle 35 prevents the cup from rolling when this lies. The shape of the handle allows a precise Handling the cup. The bottom of the cup is one provided circular elevation, the diameter of which Corresponds to the grid of the ribs 6, so that the cup in a grid square is secured against slipping, but can be rotated.

A glass 36 especially suitable for the tray is asymmetrical and has a flattened back 37 on that the glass is stable without rolling. To the focus Bringing it over the middle of foot 38 is the Glass axis slightly inclined.

Covers 39 are provided for the plates a pleated or corrugated film. Through the Wrinkles or waves are the covers against loads dimensionally stable and can still cross to the Wrinkles or waves are rolled up so that they are in one of the troughs can be supplied.

Claims (3)

1. Serving tray with the plates, cutlery and drinking vessels required for a standard meal, comprising a tray part (1) with at least one moulded-on trough (8) and a flap (2) joined to the trough (8) so as to swivel, characterized in that the flap (2) consists of a hood (14) that covers the trough (8) in its final closed position, and of a lid (13) that partially covers the tray part (1), and in that, in the open position, the hood (14) of the flap (2), covering the trough (8), is located underneath the trough (8).
2. Serving tray according to Claim 1, characterized in that the trough (8) and the hood (14) covering the trough have partially cylindrical cross-sections so that, in the closed position, they together form a cylindrical handle.
3. Serving tray according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hood (14) has an outer longitudinal edge which, when the hood is opened, moves underneath the trough and forms a stop to keep the flap (2) horizontal in the final open position.

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