BEVERAGE TRAY

Abstract

A tray used for tasting and serving beverages is disclosed. The tray may include a bottom plate having a bottom plate upper surface and a bottom plate lower surface. The tray may further include a plurality of posts attached to the bottom plate, and a plurality of bridges connected to form a top plate. The plurality of posts may be disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate. The plurality of bridges may be disposed parallel to the bottom plate, and the plurality of bridges may be disposed in series and in proximity to a periphery of the bottom plate to form a closed structure configured to surround a plurality of beverage vessels.

Claims

1. A tray comprising: a bottom plate having a bottom plate upper surface and a bottom plate lower surface; a plurality of posts attached to the bottom plate; and a plurality of bridges connected to form a top plate, wherein the plurality of posts is disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate, wherein the plurality of bridges is disposed parallel to the bottom plate, and wherein the plurality of bridges is disposed in series and in proximity to a periphery of the bottom plate to form a closed structure configured to surround a plurality of beverage vessels.

2. The tray of claim 1, wherein each post comprises a post top portion and a post bottom portion, and wherein the post bottom portion is attached to the bottom plate and the post top portion is attached to the top plate.

3. The tray of claim 1, wherein the top plate is disposed at a predetermined distance from the bottom plate.

4. The tray of claim 1, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are made of same material.

5. The tray of claim 1, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are made of acrylic material.

6. The tray of claim 1, wherein each bridge comprises an outer edge, an inner edge, left-side edge, and right-side edge, and wherein a right-side edge of a bridge is connected to a left-side edge of an adjacent bridge to form the closed structure.

7. The tray of claim 6, wherein the right-side edge of the bridge is removably connected to the left-side edge of the adjacent bridge.

8. The tray of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of connecting pieces, wherein a connecting piece, of the plurality of connecting pieces, is configured to removably connect the right-side edge of the bridge to the left-side edge of the adjacent bridge.

9. The tray of claim 8, wherein the connecting piece is configured to attach the bridge and the adjacent bridge via a fastener.

10. The tray of claim 9, wherein the fastener is a bolt.

11. The tray of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of beverage holding portions formed by the plurality of bridges and the plurality of connecting pieces, wherein the plurality of beverage holding portions is configured to hold the plurality of beverage vessels.

12. The tray of claim 11, wherein the inner edge of each bridge comprises a U-shaped cut-out that forms a beverage holding portion of the plurality of beverage holding portions.

13. The tray of claim 1, wherein each bridge comprises a beverage identifier.

14. The tray of claim 13, wherein the beverage identifier is engraved in each bridge.

15. The tray of claim 13, wherein the beverage identifier is removably attached to each bridge.

16. The tray of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate comprises a Quick Response (QR) code.

17. The tray of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate upper surface comprises a first groove in a center portion to hold a beverage vessel of the plurality of beverage vessels.

18. The tray of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate lower surface comprises a second groove that enables stacking of the tray with another tray.

19. A tray comprising: a bottom plate having a bottom plate upper surface and a bottom plate lower surface; a plurality of posts attached to the bottom plate; and a plurality of bridges connected to form a top plate, wherein the plurality of posts is disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate, wherein the plurality of bridges is disposed parallel to the bottom plate, and wherein the plurality of bridges is disposed in series and in proximity to a periphery of the bottom plate to form a closed structure configured to surround a plurality of beverage vessels, wherein each bridge comprises an outer edge, an inner edge, left-side edge, and right-side edge, and wherein a right-side edge of a bridge is connected to a left-side edge of an adjacent bridge to form the closed structure, and wherein the right-side edge of the bridge is removably connected to the left-side edge of the adjacent bridge.

20. A tray comprising: a bottom plate having a bottom plate upper surface and a bottom plate lower surface; a plurality of posts attached to the bottom plate; a plurality of bridges connected to form a top plate, wherein the plurality of posts is disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate, wherein the plurality of bridges is disposed parallel to the bottom plate, and wherein the plurality of bridges is disposed in series and in proximity to a periphery of the bottom plate to form a closed structure configured to surround a plurality of beverage vessels; and a plurality of connecting pieces, wherein a connecting piece, of the plurality of connecting pieces, is configured to removably connect a right-side edge of the bridge to a left-side edge of an adjacent bridge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

[0005] FIG. 1 depicts a beverage tray holding a plurality of beverage vessels in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of a beverage tray in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 3 depicts an isometric view of the beverage tray of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 4 depicts a beverage tray with a bottom plate having a groove in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 5 depicts an example stack of a plurality of beverage trays, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

[0010] The present disclosure is directed to a beverage tray that a user may use to serve beverages (e.g., serve beverages for tasting). The beverage may be wine, beer, whiskey, etc. The beverage tray may hold/secure multiple beverage vessels, and may prevent beverage spillage and breakage of beverage vessels.

[0011] The beverage tray may be a tiered tray having a bottom plate and a top plate, which are separated by a plurality of posts. The dimensions (e.g., diameter) of the bottom plate and the top plate may be equivalent. In some aspects, the beverage tray may include a plurality of bridges/plates that may be removably connected in series with each other to form the top plate. Specifically, the plurality of bridges may be connected in series to form a closed structure (e.g., a ring-like structure) that may surround the multiple beverage vessels to secure the beverage vessels in the beverage tray.

[0012] Each bridge may include an outer edge, an inner edge, and side edges. The side edges associated with a bridge may be removably connected to adjacent bridges to form the closed structure. In some aspects, each outer edge may be arc-shaped. When the bridges are connected to the adjacent bridges, the outer edges may form a circular closed structure. In some aspects, a circular closed structure diameter may be the same as a bottom plate diameter. In further aspects, each inner edge may include a U-shaped or C-shaped cut-out which may receive/support respective beverage vessel. Each U-shaped or C-shaped cut-out may partially enclose or surround the respective beverage vessel.

[0013] In further aspects, the beverage tray may include connecting pieces that may removably connect the side edges of the bridge with the adjacent bridges. In some aspect, each bridge may include two holes (e.g., one hole at a bridge distal end and another hole at a bridge proximal end). In further aspects, each connecting piece may include two holes (one hole at a connecting piece distal end and another hole at a connecting piece proximal end). The holes associated with the bridge and the adjacent bridge may align/overlap with the connecting piece holes to receive a fastener (e.g., bolt) to removably connect the bridges and form the circular closed structure described above.

[0014] Each bridge may include a beverage identifier (e.g., a beverage name) that may allow the user (e.g., a customer) to identify the beverage present in the respective beverage vessels. In some aspects, the beverage identifier may be engraved on the bridge. In other aspects, the beverage identifier may be removably attached/pasted to the bridge.

[0015] In further aspects, the beverage tray may include a Quick Response (QR) code, which may enable the user/bar operator to track the beverage tray. In further aspects, the beverage tray may include one or more grooves on the tray. For instance, a bottom plate upper surface may include one or more grooves to further secure the beverage vessels to the bottom plate. In addition, a bottom plate lower surface may include a groove which may enable stacking of trays one over another to serve multiple beverages at a single instance.

[0016] The present disclosure discloses a beverage tray that may hold/secure beverage vessels, and may prevent beverage spillage and breakage of beverage vessels. In addition, the beverage tray may enable the bar operator to manage the bar area effectively as the customer/waiter may carry multiple beverage vessels at a single instance to customer tables, thereby preventing overcrowding near the bar area. In addition, the customer may receive the order quickly and without unnecessary delay. Further, the stacking of the beverage trays further enables the customer/waiter to carry a large count of beverage vessels at a single instance, which may further enhance the efficiency in serving beverages. Furthermore, the use of beverage identifiers enables the customers to recall the beverages that the customer tasted and liked, which may allow the customer to place the correct order. The beverage tray is lightweight and easy to carry.

[0017] These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.

[0019] FIG. 1 depicts a beverage tray 100 holding a plurality of beverage vessels 102 in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 1 will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

[0020] A user may use the beverage tray 100 (or tray 100) to serve beverages (e.g., serve beverages for tasting). The beverages may include, but are not limited to, wine, beer, whiskey, etc. In some aspects, the tray 100 may be a tiered tray. The tray 100 may hold/secure the plurality of beverage vessels 102 that may be made of any material (e.g., glass, fiber glass, plastic, etc.) and/or be of any shape/size.

[0021] The tray 100 may be made of any material, and may be of any shape and size. In an exemplary aspect, the tray 100 is made of acrylic material. In further aspects, the tray 100 may be made of glass. In some aspects, the tray 100 may be circular in shape, as shown in FIG. 1. In further aspects, the tray 100 may be square, rectangular, or oval in shape.

[0022] The tray 100 may include a bottom plate 104 (or a base plate) that may be made of any material, and be of any size. In some aspects, the bottom plate 104 may be circular in shape. In an exemplary aspect, the bottom plate 104 may be made of acrylic material. In further aspects, the bottom plate 104 may be made of glass. In some aspects, the bottom plate 104 may be circular in shape. In further aspects, the bottom plate 104 may be square, rectangular, or oval in shape. The bottom plate 104 may include a bottom plate upper surface and a bottom plate lower surface. The bottom plate upper surface may contact the beverage vessels 102 when the beverage vessels 102 may be positioned on the tray 100. The bottom plate lower surface may be disposed opposite to the bottom plate upper surface.

[0023] The tray 100 may include a plurality of posts 106 that may be attached to the bottom plate 104 (specifically to the bottom plate upper surface). Each post 106 may include a post top portion and a post bottom portion. The post bottom portion may be attached to the bottom plate 104 (e.g., to the bottom plate upper surface). In some aspects, the posts 106 may be disposed in proximity to a bottom plate periphery. Stated another way, a distance between the posts 106 and the bottom plate periphery may be substantially less than a distance between the posts 106 and a bottom plate center portion/point. The posts 106 may separate the bottom plate 104 from a top plate of the tray 100 (which is described later in the description below). Stated another way, the posts 106 may be disposed between the bottom plate 104 and the top plate. In some aspects, the tray 100 may include ten posts that may be positioned in a predetermined manner. For instance, the ten posts may be clubbed in five pairs, and each pair may be disposed at an equivalent distance from adjacent pairs around the bottom plate periphery.

[0024] The tray 100 may further include a plurality of bridges 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e, etc. (collectively referred to as bridges 108) that may be connected to form the top plate. In some aspects, the bridges 108 may be disposed parallel to the bottom plate 104 and in proximity to the bottom plate periphery. Further, the bridges 108 may be connected in series to form a closed structure/enclosure that may surround the beverage vessels 102 (when the beverage vessels 102 may be placed on the tray 100 or the bottom plate 104). When the bridges 108 are connected in series to form the closed boundary/structure, the bridges 108 may collectively form a plurality of beverage holding portions (e.g., beverage holding portions 122, described later in the description below). Each beverage holding portion may be an open area or storage space that may be used to place a beverage vessel 102 and may partially enclose or surround the beverage vessel 102. In this manner, the top plate may hold/secure the beverage vessels 102 when the beverage vessels 102 may be placed on the tray 100. In an exemplary aspect, the closed structure/enclosure may enclose six beverage vessels.

[0025] The top plate may be disposed at a predetermined distance D from the bottom plate 104. The top plate may be supported by and separated from the bottom plate 104 via the posts 106. The post top portion of each post 106 may be connected to the top plate and the post bottom portion may be connected to the bottom plate 104. In an exemplary aspect, each bridge 108 may be supported by two posts, to provide structural integrity to the tray structure and to ensure that the bridges 108/top plate does not collapse on the bottom plate 104. In some aspects, each bridge 108 may include a bridge left end and a bridge right end. The bridge right end may be supported by one post and the bridge left end may be supported by another post.

[0026] In some aspects, the bridges 108 may be made of any material, and may be of any shape and dimensions. In an exemplary aspect, the bridges 108 may be made of acrylic material. In further aspects, the bridges 108 may be made of any other material such as glass. In some aspects, the bridges 108 may be made of the same material as the bottom plate 104. In other aspects, the bridges 108 may be made of different material from the bottom plate 104. Each bridge 108 may be made of the same material, and may be of the same size and shape. The tray 100 may include any count of bridges 108. In an exemplary aspect, the tray 100 may include five bridges that may form the closed structure or enclosure that surrounds the beverage vessels 102.

[0027] Each bridge 108 may include an outer edge 110a, an inner edge 110b, a left-side edge 110c, and a right-side edge 110d, as shown in FIG. 2. The left-side edge 110c may be located at a bridge proximal end and the right-side edge 110d may be located at a bridge distal end. The outer edge 110a may face away from a tray center portion and the inner edge 110b may face towards the tray center portion, when the bridges 108 may be connected to form the top plate. In some aspects, the inner edge 110b of each bridge 108 may contact respective beverage vessel 102 when the beverage vessels 102 may be disposed on the tray 100. The bridges 108 may connect with each other in series via the side edges 110c, 110d to form the closed structure/enclosure. In some aspects, the bridges 108 may be removably connected with adjacent bridges to form the top plate. For instance, the side edges 110c, 110d of a bridge (e.g., the bridge 108a) may be removably attached to the side edges 110c, 110d of other adjacent bridges (e.g., the bridges 108b and 108e) to form the closed structure/enclosure.

[0028] In some aspects, the outer edge 110a of each bridge 108 may have an arc-shape. In an exemplary aspect, an arc radius of each outer edge 110a may be equivalent to a bottom plate radius. When the bridges 108 are connected in series to form the closed structure, the outer edges 110a may form a circular closed structure or ring-like structure (as the outer edges 110a are arc-shaped). The beverage vessels 102 may be positioned inside the closed enclosure or the ring-like structure. When the outer edges 110a form the circular closed structure or ring-like structure, the bottom plate periphery may be aligned with the outer edges 110a of the bridges 108 (or disposed just below the outer edges 110a). Stated another way, the bottom plate 104 outer diameter may be the same as the top plate outer diameter. In alternative aspects, the outer edge 110a may be straight portions and not arc-shaped, which may form a square or rectangular closed structure when the bridges 108 are connected in series to form the closed enclosure.

[0029] In further aspects, the inner edge 110b of each bridge 108 may include a cut-out that may be configured to receive respective beverage vessel 102. In an exemplary aspect, the inner edge 110b may include a U-shaped or a C-shaped cut-out that may secure the respective beverage vessel 102 when the beverage vessel 102 may be positioned on the tray 100. In some aspects, the cut-out may partially surround the beverage vessel 102 when the beverage vessel 102 may be positioned on the tray 100. In some aspects, the inner edge 110b may contact the beverage vessel 102 when the beverage vessel 102 may be positioned on the tray 100. In further aspects, a diameter associated with the U-shaped cut-out (or the inner edge 110b) may be less than a diameter associated with the arc-shaped outer edge 110a. In further aspects, the diameter associated with the U-shaped cut-out (or the inner edge 110b) may correspond to or be equivalent to a beverage vessel bottom portion diameter.

[0030] The side edges 110c, 110d of each bridge 108 may be flat edges that may contact with other side edges of adjacent bridges to form the closed structure. The side edges 110c, 110d of the bridge and the adjacent bridges may be removably attached with each other via a fastening mechanism, which may be, for example, connecting pieces.

[0031] In some aspects, the tray 100 may include a plurality of connecting pieces 112 that may be made of acrylic material. Each connecting piece 112 may removably connect a right/left side edge of a bridge with a left/right side edge of an adjacent bridge. In some aspects, the connecting piece 112 may be disposed between the post 106 and the bridge 108. The connecting piece 112 may overlap with the side edge 110c of the bridge (e.g., the bridge 108c) with the side edge 110d of the adjacent bridge (e.g., the bridge 108d), to connect/secure the bridge 108c with the adjacent bridge 108d, as shown in FIG. 3. In some aspects, the connecting piece 112 may be removably connected to the side edges 110c, 110d of the bridge and the adjacent bridge via a fastener. In some aspects, the fastener may be a bolt 114. The count of connecting pieces 112 may correspond to the count of bridges 108. For instance, when there are five bridges 108, five connecting pieces 112 may be required to removably connect the five bridges 108 in series.

[0032] In some aspects, each connecting piece 112 may include four sides including a first side 116a, a second side 116b, a third side 116c, and a fourth side 116d. The first side 116a and the fourth side 116d may completely overlap with the side edge (and a U-shaped cut-out portion) of the bridge 108c. The second side 116b and the third side 116c may completely overlap with the side edge (and a U-shaped cut-out portion) of the adjacent bridge 108d. In some aspects, a first side 116a periphery may align with an inner edge 110b periphery portion associated with the bridge 108c, and a second side 116b periphery may align with an inner edge 110b periphery portion associated with the bridge 108d. The first side 116a periphery and the second side 116b periphery may not protrude out from inner edge 110b periphery portion associated with the bridges 108c, 108d. Thus, each connecting piece 112 may be completely covered by the bridges 108. In this manner, the connecting pieces 112 may not interfere with the beverage vessels 102 placed on the tray 100.

[0033] In some aspects, each bridge 108 may include a plurality of holes including a first hole 118a and a second hole 118b. The first hole 118a may be located in proximity to the left-side edge 110c and the second hole 118b may be located in proximity to the right-side edge 110d. Stated another way, the first hole 118a may be located in proximity to the bridge distal end and the second hole 118b may be located in proximity to the bridge proximal end. Similarly, each connecting piece 112 may include a plurality of holes including a third hole 120a and a fourth hole 120b. The second hole 118b associated with the bridge 108c may overlap with the third hole 120a to receive the bolt 114, which enables the connection of the connecting piece 112 with the bridge 108c. Similarly, the first hole 118a associated with the bridge 108d may overlap with the fourth hole 120b to receive another bolt 114, which enables the connection of the connecting piece 112 with the bridge 108c. Thus, one connecting piece 112 may enable connection of the bridge 108c with the adjacent bridge 108d.

[0034] In some aspects, the bolt 114 may be a threaded bolt that may engage with the post 106, which enables removable connection of the bridge 108 with the post 106. Specifically, the post 106 may include internal threading that may be configured to engage with bolt 114 external threading.

[0035] In some aspects, to arrange/assemble the top plate, the user may position the connecting piece 112 between the post 106 and the bridge (e.g., the bridge 108c), and may align the second hole 118b associated with the bridge 108c to overlap with the third hole 120a associated with the connecting piece 112. When the second hole 118b is aligned with the third hole 120a, the user may insert the bolt 114 in the holes 118b, 120a to fasten the bolt 114 with the post 106. The user may then attach the adjacent bridge (e.g., the bridge 108d) by aligning the first hole 118a associated with the bridge 108d with the fourth hole 120b associated with the connecting piece 112. When the first hole 118a is aligned with the fourth hole 120b, the user may insert another bolt 114 in the holes 118a, 120b to fasten the other bolt 114 with the other post 106. The user may then continue to attach the other bridges in the similar manner via the other connecting pieces 112 to form/assemble the top plate.

[0036] The tray 100 may further include a plurality of beverage holding portions 122 that may be configured to hold/secure the beverage vessels 102 on the tray 100. The holding portions 122 may be formed by the bridges 108 and the connecting pieces 112. The holding portions 122 may hold the plurality of beverage vessels 102. In some aspects, each U-shaped cut-out associated with the inner edge 110b may form a beverage holding portion of the plurality of beverage holding portions, in which a user may place a beverage vessel 102. The count of beverage vessels that the user may place in the beverage holding portions 122 may correspond to the bridges 108 count. For example, when there are five bridges 108 in the tray 100, five beverage holding portions may be formed by the five bridges 108. In this case, the user may place five beverage vessels 102 in the five beverage holding portions. In an exemplary aspect, in this case, a sixth beverage vessel may also be positioned at a tray/bottom plate center portion.

[0037] In further aspects, the bottom plate 104 may include a groove 124 (or a cavity) that may receive a beverage vessel 102. The groove 124 may be located at a bottom plate center portion that may receive the sixth beverage vessel described above. In some aspects, the groove 124 may be located at the bottom plate upper surface, and the user may place the sixth beverage vessel on the groove 124. Groove shape and dimensions (e.g., radius, depth, etc.) may correspond to beverage vessel bottom portion shape and dimensions. For example, the groove 124 may be circular in shape when a beverage vessel bottom portion is circular in shape. A groove diameter may correspond to a beverage vessel bottom portion diameter. The beverage vessel 102 may snap in the groove 124 to secure the beverage vessel 102 on the bottom plate 104. In further aspects, the bottom plate 104 may include more than one grooves to hold/secure additional beverage vessels (e.g., when the bottom plate 104 may have a large diameter). For instance, the bottom plate 104 may include six grooves to hold/secure six beverage vessels. In further aspects, the tray 100 may include other implements to hold/secure the beverage vessels on the bottom plate 104. For instance, the bottom plate 104 may include a plurality of rubberized material or circular-shaped protrusions/ridges located on the bottom plate upper surface that may hold/secure the beverage vessels on the bottom plate 104.

[0038] In further aspects, each bridge 108 may include a beverage identifier that may identify the beverage present in the beverage vessel 102 positioned in proximity to the respective bridge. The beverage identifier may include, but is not limited to, a beverage name, a code associated with the beverages, and/or the like. The beverage identifier may enable the user to identify beverages (e.g., wines, beers, etc.) that the user may taste/drink. In some aspects, the beverage identifier may be engraved in the bridge 108. In other aspects, the beverage identifier may be removably attached to the bridge 108 (e.g., removably pasted on the bridge upper surface). In further aspects, the beverage identifier may be printed on the bridge 108.

[0039] In further aspects, the tray 100 may include a Quick Response (QR) code 126 that may be located on the bottom plate 104. In some aspects, the QR code 126 may be printed at a bottom plate center portion. In other aspects, the QR code 126 may be printed at any other location on the bottom plate 104. The QR code 126 may enable the user/bar operator to track the tray 100. In further aspects, the QR code 126 may be configured to display beverage/food menu to the user, via a user device (not shown). In some aspects, the tray 100 may include more than one QR codes that may be printed anywhere on the tray 100. In further aspects, the tray 100 may include other marketing information such as logos on the bottom plate 104 and/or the bridges 108.

[0040] In operation, a second user (e.g., a waiter) may receive a request/order from a first user (or a customer) to serve the beverages for tasting. For instance, the customer may request to serve wines for tasting at the customer table or at the bar area. The waiter may then select a plurality of beverage types (wine types) for serving to the customer. In some aspects, the waiter may select the beverage type(s) based on the customer preferences. The waiter may then identify the bridges 108 having the bridge identifier associated with the selected beverage types. For instance, when the waiter selects the wines, wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, wine E, wine F, the waiter may identify the bridges 108 on which wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, wine E, are engraved. The waiter may then removably connect the bridges 108 having the beverage identifiers wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, wine E, to form the closed structure or the top plate (e.g., the ring-like closed structure). To attach the bridges 108, the waiter may use the connecting pieces 112 to removably connect the side edges 110c, 110d of the bridges 108, and connect the bridges 108 and the connecting pieces 112 via the fastener (e.g., the bolt 114) to the posts 106 and form the tiered tray, as described above.

[0041] Alternatively, the waiter may replace one or more bridges with existing connected bridges on the tray 100 so that the tray 100 may now include the beverage identifiers for the wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, wine E. To replace the bridge 108, the second user may disconnect one existing bridge (e.g., the bridge with a beverage identifier for wine G) by removing the bolts 114 from the side edges 110c, 110d (or the bridge distal end and the bridge proximal end), and may position the relevant bridge (e.g., the bridge with the beverage identifier wine E) in place of the existing bridge. The waiter may then use the bolts 114 to attach the relevant bridge.

[0042] Responsive to placing/attaching the relevant bridges, the waiter may then position/place the beverage vessels 102 filled with the beverages (e.g., wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, wine E, wine F) on the bottom plate 102. Specifically, the waiter may position the beverage vessel having wine A in proximity to a U-shaped cut-out associated with a bridge having the beverage identifier wine A, the beverage vessel having wine B in proximity to a U-shaped cut-out associated with a bridge having the beverage identifier wine B, the beverage vessel having wine C in proximity to a U-shaped cut-out associated with a bridge having the beverage identifier wine C, and so on. Thus, the beverages vessels associated with wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, wine E, may be surrounded by the selected bridges 108. In some aspects, the waiter may additionally position the beverage vessel having wine F at the bottom plate center portion. The wine F may be surrounded by the beverage vessels associated with wine A, wine B, wine C, wine D, and wine E.

[0043] Although, the present disclosure describes that the tray 100 is used for serving beverages, the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting to serving beverages. The tray 100 may be used for serving other food products as well, without departing from the present disclosure scope.

[0044] FIG. 5 depicts an example stack 500 of a plurality of beverage trays, in accordance with the present disclosure. The stack 500 may include a plurality of trays 502a, 502b, 502c, 502d, etc. (collectively referred to as trays 502). Each tray 502 may be the same as the tray 100 described above in conjunction with FIGS. 1-4. Each tray 502 may stack over another tray, which may enable the waiter to serve more beverages at a single instance.

[0045] In some aspects, each tray 502 may include a bottom plate 504 that may be the same as the bottom plate 104 described above. In some aspects, a bottom plate lower surface may include a groove 506 (or a cavity) that enables a user to stack the trays 502 one over the other. In further aspects, a groove 506 shape and groove 506 size may be associated with the top plate shape and top plate size. For instance, the groove 506 may have closed ring-like structure, which may enable secure stacking of trays 502.

[0046] In operation, the waiter may independently place beverage vessels in the first tray 502a, the second tray 502b, the third tray 502c, and the fourth tray 502d. The waiter may then position the third tray 502c over the fourth tray 502d, the second tray 502b over the third tray 502c, and so on to stack the trays. When the waiter positions the third tray 502c over the fourth tray 502d, the groove 506 associated with the third tray 502c may surround the lips associated with beverage vessels placed inside the fourth tray 502d.

[0047] In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, an example embodiment, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0048] It should also be understood that the word example as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word example as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.

[0049] With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

[0050] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.

[0051] All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as a, the, said, etc., should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Conditional language, such as, among others, can, could, might, or may, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.