GB2158694A

GB2158694A - Food dispensing tray

Info

Publication number: GB2158694A
Application number: GB08412307A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jasbir Singh Chagger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-14
Filing date: 1984-05-14
Publication date: 1985-11-20
Also published as: GB8412307D0; GB2158694B

Abstract

The tray comprises a pliable or frangible array of dish-like members (12-15) integrally formed as a thin sheet-like member for example from vacuum formed plastics, metal foil or paper-like material. The array of dish-like members (Figure 3) forms a removable insert in a frame (Figure 1) of complementary form and adapted to support the array of dish-like members (12-15) in use. The frame (Figure 1) is formed with apertures (8) below the dish-like members (12-15) to prevent use of the frame as a food-dispensing tray without the array of dish-like members in position. The sheet-like array of dish-like members (12-15) is suitably surrounded by a turned down lip (17) overlapping side portions of the frame to protect from soiling. An enlarged aperture (6) is provided complementarily in the sheet-like array and the frame for receipt of a drinking cup. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Food dispensing tray This invention relates to a food dispensing tray and is particularly concerned with trays providing a plurality of compartments for the service of meals, different foods being placed in respective compartments.

It is known to provide disposable plastics food dispensing trays having sereral compartments but these are generally flimsy and non-rigid, presenting handling problems when carrying food and normally only useful for serving a meal on a supporting table, for example on aircraft.

It is also known to make such trays of more rigid structure, for example by integrally moulded stiff ening flanges, but such trays are expensive to produce, and if re-use is required to economise on cost then they present the customary cleaning problem. Another form of disposable semi-rigid tray is formed of polystyrene of relatively thick section, and although this is satisfactory from a han dling aspect when in use, it is again relatively expensive.

It is also known to position individual dishes on a supporting tray, the tray serving as a rigid or semi-rigid platform and being capable of re-use.

However due to natural spillage it is necessary to subject the tray to normal cleaning after each use.

The costs of cleaning, particularly in mass cater ing and in western countries tend to be uneconom ically high so there is a continuing need for a food dispensing tray which obviates the need for clean ing which is stable in use and yet which is eco nomic in use. It is an object of the invention to provide such a food dispensing tray.

A food dispensing tray according to the invention comprises at least one pliable dish-like mem ber removably mounted on a relatively rigid support and the frame being apertured below the dish to preclude its use as a food carrier without the dish-like member. The dish-like member suita bly has flange portions overlapping upper surfaces of the frame when in use whereby the frame is protected from soiling by food served in the dish like member.

Suitably a plurality of dish-like members are integrally formed in a single thin moulding of plastics material having a surrounding lip of plastics overlying upper surfaces of surrounding edge portions of the frame.

Suitably the moulding is formed as a thin flat sheet of plastics from which the dish-like members are depressed to present a thin relatively pliable moulding, and the frame is of generally compli mentary shape, adapted to receive the dish-like member in recesses in the frame, portions of the frame between the recesses supporting sheet portions of the moulding between the dish-like mem bers, and the recesses being apertured at the underside of the dish-like member.

Suitably a surrounding edge of the moulding is turned down to overlap side portions of the frame and protect from soiling.

As an alternative to plastics moulding the dishlike member may be formed from metal foil for example of aluminium.

The frame may be formed from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material, but suitably it is formed as a plastics moulding configured to provide the desired rigidity and support for the relatively flimsy, disposable array of dish-like members.

The frame may be formed with an enlarged aperture, complimentary to a corresponding aperture in the array of dish-like members, whereby a cup or drinking flask may be supported when in use.

The array of dish-like members around the enlarged aperture is suitably flanged downwardly so that the flange lines the aperture of the frame.

The material of the dish-like member may be of any suitable material having appropriate hygiene characteristics and is suitably adapted to withstand the effect of warm food.

Suitable materials may be selected from a wide range of plastics materials, metal foil and surfaced papers for example.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 7 is a plan view of a frame according to one embodiment, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the frame, Figure 3 is a front elevation of a unitary array of dish-like members for use with the frame of Figures 1 and 2, with a part cut-away and sectioned, and Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken across an aperture in the unitary array of Figure 3 and corresponding in position to an aperture in a surface of the frame of Figure 1.

The frame of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a generally planar upper surface portion 1 formed with an array of four dish-like recesses 2, 3, 4, 5 of generally rectangular form but of varying sizes, and extending downwardly from the portion 1 which is also formed with a circular aperture 6. The planar portion 1 is surrounded by a thickened edge portion 7 adapted to rigidify the planar portion 1 which is further rigidified by the web-like sides of the recesses 2 to 5 and may be further rigidified by webs extending between adjacent recesses at the underside.

Each of the recesses 2 to 5 is formed with a respective array of basal apertures 8 to render the recesses unsuited to or incapable of containing food.

The array of dish-like members of Figure 3 corresponds to the arrangement of recesses 2 to 5 of Figure 1 and is formed as a unitary plastics moulding with dish-like members 12 to 15 corresponding to respective recesses 2 to 5 within which they are adapted to fit in supported manner. The moulding is formed as a thin generally planar upper surface portion 10 from which the dish-like members 12-15 are depressed, the surrounding edge of the portion 16 extending outwardly as a marginal border 11 arranged to overlie the thickened portion 7 of the frame. At its outer edge the marginal border 11 is turned down as a surrounding flange or lip 17 adapted to protect the frame from soiling and exposure to food being served.

As shown in Figure 4, at an aperture 16 corresponding to the aperture 6 in the frame, the moulding is downwardly flanged about the aperture 16 to present an annular flange 18 arranged to line the aperture 6 in use and protect against exposure of the frame to food or fluids being served.

Claims

1. A food-dispensing tray comprising at least one pliable or frangible dish-like member removably mounted on a relatively rigid support frame, the frame being apertured below the or each dishlike member.

2. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each dish-like member has flange portions overlapping upper surfaces of the frame.

3. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a plurality of dish-like members are integrally formed as a single thin sheet-like member having a surrounding lip overlying upper surfaces of surrounding edge portions of the frame.

4. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claim 3, in which the dish-like members are formed as a unitary plastics moulding.

5. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claim 3, in which the dish-like members are formed from a sheet of metal foil.

6. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claim 3, in which the dish-like members are formed from a sheet of paper-like material.

7. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claims 3, 4, 5 or 6, in which the sheet-like member is formed as a thin flat sheet from which the dish-like members are depressed and the frame is of generally complementary shape and adapted to receive the dish-like members in supportive manner in recesses in the frame, the recesses being apertured at the undersides of the dish-like members.

8. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in claim 7, in which portions of the frame between the recesses support sheet portions of the moulding between the dish-like members.

9. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8, in which a surrounding edge of the sheet-like member is turned down to overlap sideportions of the frame.

10. A food-dispensing tray as claimed in any of claims 3 to 9, in which the frame is formed with an enlarged aperture complementary to a corresponding aperture in the sheet-like member, the sheetlike member around the corresponding aperture being flanged downwardly to line the enlarged aperture of the frame.

11. A food-dispensing tray substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A food-dispensing tray comprising a plurality of pliable or frangible dish-like members integrally formed as a single thin sheet-like member and removably mounted on a relatively rigid support frame, the sheet-like member overlapping upper surfaces of the frame and having a surrounding lip upper surfaces of surrounding edge portions of the frame, the frame being apertured below the dishlike member.