SERVING TRAY HOLDER AND STABILIZER

Abstract

A serving tray holder that provides stability to a serving tray and provides comfort to the user.

Claims

1. A serving tray holder and stabilizer, said serving tray holder comprising: A) a unitary serving tray support and, B) a carrying handle for said unitary serving tray support, said unitary serving tray support comprising i) a center plate; ii) two lateral extensions from said center plate in the same plane as said center plate, which extensions extend in a 90-degree angle from each other from said center plate; each said lateral having a terminal end, each said terminal end curled upwardly direction in a hook configuration; iii) a tab extending from said center plate in the same plane as said lateral extensions at an angle of 135 degrees from each said lateral extension, said tab having a distal terminal notch; iv) a centered hub on a bottom of said center plate, said carrying handle being insertable in and retractable out of said hub.

2. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 that is manufactured from plastic.

3. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plastic is vinyl.

4. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plastic is polyethylene.

5. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plastic is polypropylene.

6. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plastic is ABS.

7. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plastic is crosslinked polyethylene.

8. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 that has a size to securely hold a serving tray having a 10 to 36 inch diameter.

9. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hook configuration has at least a ? inch wide opening.

10. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral extensions each have at least a ? inch thickness and width.

11. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said center plate has a thickness of at least 1/16 inch.

12. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is from three inches to 6 inches long.

13. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle has indentions for finger gripping.

14. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is manufactured from wood.

15. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is manufactured from plastic.

16. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is manufactured from metal.

17. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is manufactured from composite material.

18. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is capable of insertion and withdrawal from said hub.

19. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is lockable inside said hub.

20. A serving tray holder and stabilizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said center plate is from 1/16 inch to 5/16 in thickness.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING (S)

[0015] FIG. 1 is a full top view of a serving tray holder of this invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a full bottom view of the serving tray holder of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of one of the hook configurations.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a full front view of the serving tray holder of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a full side view of a serving tray support of this invention holding a serving tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Thus, what is disclosed and claimed herein is a serving tray holder that provides stability to a serving tray and comfort to the user.

[0021] With regard to FIG. 1, there is shown a full top view of a serving tray holder 1 of this invention. The serving tray holder 1 is comprised of unitary structure with the exception of a separate handle 2. What is meant by unitary herein is that the center plate 3, the lateral extensions 4 and the tab 7, and the hub 8, are all one piece and the centerplate 3, the lateral extensions 4 and the tab 7 are all on the same plane.

[0022] The center plate 3 is shown as circular in configuration, however, this portion of the serving tray holder can be any such configuration, such as, square, triangular, rectangular, octagonal and the like. The center plate 3 is from 1/16 inch to 5/16 in thickness.

[0023] There are two lateral extensions 4 from the center plate 3 and they are in the same plane as the center plate 3 to provide a continuous flat surface. The lateral extensions 4 extend in a 90? angle from each other from the center plate 3. Each lateral extension 4 has a terminal end 5 and at each terminal end 5, there is an upwardly directed hook configuration 6. For purposes of this invention, the opening of the hook is at least ? inch.

[0024] There is a single tab 7 extending from the center plate 3 in the same plane as the lateral extensions 4 at an angle of 135? from each lateral extension 4. The tab 7 has a distal terminal notch 10 therein.

[0025] There is a centered hub 8 mounted on the bottom 9 of the center plate 3. There is a carrying handle 10 that is insertable into the hub 8 and retractable from the hub 8.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, a serving tray 11 is placed on the top surface of the serving tray support 1 and then the edge of the serving tray 11 is moved into the hook configurations 6 to secure the serving tray 11 on the serving tray support 1. The serving tray 11, either full or empty, can easily be placed on the serving tray support 1 and removed.

[0027] The tray supports of this invention can be manufactured from metals, plastic or composite materials. Aluminum is the preferred metal, but stainless steel can be used. Plastics that can be used include polyethylene, cross linked polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, ABS and the like. The handle can be manufactured from metal, plastic, wood or composite materials.

[0028] The tray supports of this invention have an outside diameter of about 10 inches to about 36 inches and the handle has a length of from 3 inches to 6 inches.

[0029] It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to provide for a locking mechanism for the handle into the hub. See FIG. 2, designation 12. This mechanism is a simple friction hold of plastic against plastic. The tray supports can be colored but are usually black, white or gray in color.