GB2356795A - Spillage tray with tea bag receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

The spillage tray(1) comprises a hollow base(3) for collection of spilled matter and a lid(2) with a series of apertures to allow the spilled matter to pass through into the base(3). The base(3) and lid(2) are fixed together during use, but can be easily separated for cleaning purposes. The base(3) may incorporate a dividing wall(7) which creates two separate compartments (8 and 9). The smaller compartment (9) may serve as a receptacle for disposable matter such as used tea bags, the lid (2) having an open area (5, Figure 2) above that compartment. The part of the lid above the larger compartment (8) has a grid or other pattern of apertures for drainage of spillage from vessels such as tea cups. The lid may comprise holders for such vessels.

Description

2356795 1 SPILLAGE TRAY 2 3 The present invention relates to a tray and

more 4 particularly to a spillage tray for use during the preparation of drinks.

6 7 The preparation of most drinks requires the mixing of a 8 number of different components, for example a cup of tea 9 often consists of a combination of hot water, tea, milk and sugar. As with the blending of any mixture some 11 degree of mechanical stirring is required to ensure that 12 the beverage is of the desired composition, i.e. to 13 ensure that all the components have dissolved to give the 14 required taste.

16 The mechanical agitation of the liquid can often result 17 in the liquid itself being spilled. This can be 18 dangerous where the drink is a hot drink due to the 19 possibility of scalding.

21 The development of new flavours for traditional drinks 22 has led to the development of new additives and 23 colourings for these drinks, for example there are now a 24 wide range of fruit flavoured cordial drinks available.

Y 2 1 Furthermore, drinks such as tea are also abundant source 2 of natural products. These additives and natural 3 products can be of a highly coloured nature and 4 accordingly any spillage that is allowed to remain on a work surface for any length of time can result in the 6 surface itself becoming stained.

7 8 This can also be a problem when using a teabag to make a 9 cup of tea. If on removal from the cup the teabag is placed on a work surface and again left for any length of 11 time, staining of the surface can occur.

12 13 A further problem associated with the use of a teabag is 14 that of its disposal after being used. The preparation of a cup of tea is often remote from a waste disposal 16 bucket and therefore there is a need to transport the 17 teabag from the cup to the bucket. This process usually 18 results in excess tea dripping on to a floor which 19 subsequently will require cleaning.

21 In the prior art spillage trays for use in bars are

22 known. However, these types of trays are unsuitable for 23 use in a domestic environment.

24 It would therefore be desirable to be able to use a 26 spillage tray in a domestic environment.

27 28 It would also be desirable for such a tray to be provided 29 with a means for storage of waste materials, for example a tea bag, or implements such as a teaspoon.

31 32 33 It is an object of the present invention to provide a 34 spillage tray for use domestically.

3 2 It is a further object of the present invention to 3 provide a spillage tray that is lightweight and is easy 4 to use and clean.

6 According to the present invention there is provided a 7 spillage tray comprising a body which defines a hollow 8 internal compartment, and an upper planar surface for 9 supporting one or more vessels.

11 Typically, the upper planar surface is associated with 12 drainage means, allowing matter which has spilled from 13 vessels supported on the upper surface to pass into the 14 internal compartment.

16 The upper surface may be a grid.

17 18 optionally, the upper surface contains a series of 19 apertures allowing the spilled matter to pass through to the internal compartment.

21 22 Preferably, the body further defines a second compartment 23 for receiving and storing disposable matter.

24 Further according to the present invention, there is 26 provided a spillage tray comprising a lid and a base, the 27 lid being provided with drainage means, wherein the 28 spillage tray further comprises a receptacle for 29 receiving disposable matter into a compartment for storing such disposable matter.

31 32 33 4 1 Typically, the drainage means is provided as a series of 2 apertures in the lid, and the receptacle is sized to 3 allow the storage of a tea bag or similarly sized 4 disposable material.

6 Preferably, the lid is provided with a lip which allows 7 it be securely fixed to the base and yet able to be 8 removed when the spillage tray is not in use, for 9 cleaning purposes.

11 More preferably, the lip features a pouring spout to 12 facilitate the disposal of waste material from the 13 spillage tray.

14 optionally, the lid is provided with a rim which 16 mitigates the overflow of spilled matter off the edge of 17 the lid.

18 19 The lid may also be provided with one or more holders to support the one or more vessels.

21 22 Optionally, the base is provided with feet which reduce 23 the likelihood of the spillage tray from slipping when in 24 use.

26 In a preferred embodiment, the spillage tray is provided 27 with a dividing means which creates two separate 28 compartments in the base.

29 Typically, the compartments in the base are of different 31 sizes, the larger compartment being associated with the 32 series of apertures in the lid and the smaller 33 compartment being associated with the aperture in the lid 34 for disposal of waste material.

2 In order to provide a better understanding of the present 3 invention an example will now be described by way of 4 example only with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

6 7 Figures la and 1b illustrate a front elevation 8 of a spillage tray in accordance with the 9 present invention; 11 Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of a spillage 12 tray in accordance with the present invention; 13 14 Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of an alternative spillage tray to that illustrated 16 in Figure 1; 17 18 Figure 4 illustrates alternative drainage 19 arrangements that may be used with the spillage tray of Figure 1; and 21 22 Figure 5 illustrates a container in position on 23 the spillage tray of Figure 1.

24 Referring firstly to Figures la and lb, a spillage tray 26 is generally depicted at 1 comprising a lid 2 and a base 27 3. The lid 3 is provided with supports 4, an opening 5 28 and a grid 6, the grid 6 is perforated to allow liquid to 29 run into the base 3. The base 3 is provided with a divider 7 which splits the base 3 into two sections, a 31 larger section 8 and a smaller section 9. The base 3 is 32 also provided with non-slip feet 10.

33 6 1 The base 3 is also provided with a lipped edge 11 to 2 allow the lid 2 to be securely fixed to the base 3 when 3 the spillage tray 1 is in use yet readily removed when 4 cleaning of the spillage tray is required.

6 In Figure 3 alternative perforations, in the form of a 7 series of holes, that may be used in the lid 2 of the 8 spillage tray 1 are illustrated at 12.

9 In Figure 4 further examples of perforations that may be 11 used as part of the lid are illustrated at 13. 14 and 15.

12 13 Each of the alternative styles of perforation can be 14 readily incorporated into the lid of the spillage tray 1.

16 Typically the dimensions of the spillage tray are 30Omm 17 by 20Omm by 45mm. However, alternative sizes of tray may 18 be used depending on the nature and quantities of the 19 materials that are being mixed.

21 The spillage tray 1 may be used in the following way, for 22 example in the preparation of a cup of tea. The spillage 23 tray 1 is assembled by placing the lid 2 over the base 3 24 and "snapping" the two together until they form a single unit. The container for the liquid is placed on the lid 26 2, as illustrated in Figure 5. The drink of tea is 27 prepared in the user's preferred manner, for example the 28 addition of hot water to a tea bag. The teabag can be 29 removed and placed in the smaller section 9. The user can now add milk and sugar if required and stir the 31 resultant mixture vigorously to ensure the components are 32 dissolved. It is during this stirring process that 33 spillage most regularly occurs. This being the case the 34 liquid spilled falls on to the grid 6 and into the larger 7 1 section 8 of the base 3, thus containing the spillage and 2 protecting the surf ace on which the spillage tray 1 has 3 been placed.

4 After the user has prepared his drink the spillage tray 6 can be removed to a more convenient location, for example 7 a kitchen sink, for disposal of the waste teabag and the 8 spilled liquid.

9 An advantage of the present invention is that there is 11 provided a means for readily collecting any liquid that 12 may have been spilled during the preparation of a drink.

13 There is also provided a convenient method for storing 14 waste materials until a convenient location for their disposal can be found.

16 17 A further advantage of the present invention is that the 18 potential for staining work surfaces as a result of the 19 spillage of liquids is prevented.

21 A yet further advantage is that the spillage tray is 22 inexpensive, lightweight and simple to use.

23 24 In alternative example embodiments the spillage tray may be made of alternative materials, stainless steel, china 26 or ceramics.

27 28 A further example embodiment provides for the base of the 29 spillage tray to be provided with drawers/flaps to enable a user to remove any waste material without dismantling 31 the entire apparatus.

32 33 The use of the spillage tray is not limited to the 34 preparation of drinks. For example, in any operation 8 1 where mixing may be required alternative embodiments of 2 the tidy may be used, for example making solutions of 3 paste or glue materials, mixing paints or any form of 4 cooking where mixtures are prepared.

6 A further alternative example of the use of the spillage 7 tray would be in combination with a hand blender whose 8 use can result in extensive spillage.

9 Further modifications and improvements may be added 11 without departing from the scope of the invention herein 12 intended.

9

Claims (10)

1 CLAIMS

2 3 1. A spillage tray comprising a body which def ines a 4 hollow internal compartment, and an upper planar surface for supporting one or more vessels.

6 7

2. A spillage tray as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the 8 upper planar surface is associated with drainage 9 means, allowing matter which has spilled from vessels supported on the upper surface to pass into the 11 internal compartment.

12 13

3. A spillage tray as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, 14 wherein the upper surface is a grid.

16

4. A spillage tray as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, 17 wherein the upper surface contains a series of 18 apertures allowing the spilled matter to pass through 19 to the internal compartment.

21

5. A spillage tray as claimed in any one of the preceding 22 Claims, wherein the body further defines a second 23 compartment for receiving and storing disposable 24 matter.

26

6. A spillage tray comprising a lid and a base, the lid 27 being provided with drainage means, wherein the 28 spillage tray further comprises a receptacle for 29 receiving disposable matter into a compartment for storing such disposable matter.

31 32 33 34 1

7. A spillage tray as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the 2 drainage means is provided as a series of apertures in 3 the lid, and the receptacle is sized to allow the 4 storage of a tea bag or similarly sized disposable material.

6 7

8. A spillage tray as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the lid 8 is provided with a lip which allows it be securely 9 fixed to the base and yet able to be removed when the spillage tray is not in use, for cleaning purposes.

11 12

9. A spillage tray, as in Claim 8, wherein the lip 13 features a pouring spout to facilitate the disposal of 14 waste material from the spillage tray.

16

1 O.A spillage tray, as in Claims 6 to 9, wherein the lid 17 is provided with a rim which mitigates the overflow of 18 spilled matter off the edge of the lid.

19 11 A spillage tray, as in Claims 6 to 10, wherein the lid 21 is provided with one or more holders to support the 22 one or more vessels.

23 24 12.A spillage tray, as in Claims 6 to 1 1, wherein the base is provided with feet which reduce the likelihood 26 of the spillage tray from slipping when in use.

27 28 13.A spillage tray, as in Claim 6, wherein the spillage 29 tray is provided with a dividing means which creates two separate compartments in the base.

31 32 33 34 2 14.A spillage tray, as in Claim 13, wherein the 3 compartments in the base are of different sizes, the 4 larger compartment being associated with the series of apertures in the lid and the smaller compartment being 6 associated with the aperture in the lid for disposal 7 of waste material.

8 9 15.A spillage tray substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.