Illuminated serving tray

• US 5,711,595 A
• Filed: 08/23/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Robert Gerbe
• Original Assignee: James Robert Gerbe
• Inventors: Gerbe, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US08/518,208
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/98, 362/99, 362/101, 362/154, 362/208, 362/253, 362/806, 40/555, 40/542, 250/462.1, 206/562, 206/563
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2023/0658 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/06 Serving trays service tables A47B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0036 Table-ware or table equipment, e.g. dishes, cutlery or trays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0003 the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an illuminated serving tray. The tray has a plurality of receptacles for housing products to be dispensed and a light source for illuminating the tray. The tray is made of photoluminescent material with a reflective label positioned above the central portion of the tray and in line with the light source which is connected to and positioned below the bottom of the tray so that the light from the light source and any ambient light is reflected back by the reflective label and transmitted through the photoluminescent material of the tray causing the tray and the edges of the tray to glow.

Claims

1. An illuminated hand-held serving tray, comprising:

a hand-held tray, having a plurality of openings, and formed of a light permeable photo-luminescent material; and

at least one light source connected to a first surface of said tray for uniform light dispersion;

reflective material on at least a portion of a second surface of said tray, said reflective material being placed directly opposite and over said light source to reflect escaping light back into said tray, so that when said at least one light source shines on said tray said reflective material reflects the light from said light source throughout the light-permeable, photoluminescent material of said tray so as to illuminate said tray throughout.

2. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray further comprises at least one leg connected to said first surface of said tray.

3. The illuminated tray according to claim 2 wherein said at least one leg are three legs.

4. An illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is made of a plastic material.

5. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is made of a colored transparent material so that said tray illuminates when a light from said light source is applied to said tray.

6. The tray according to claim 1 wherein said light source is a flashlight mounted on said tray.

7. The illuminated tray according to claim 6 wherein said tray has a center portion and said flashlight is mounted onto the center portion of said tray.

8. The illuminated tray according to claim 7 wherein said center portion has a top side and a bottom side and said reflective material covers the top side of said center portion of said tray and said flashlight is mounted directly underneath the bottom side of said center portion of said tray so that when said flashlight shines on said tray said reflective material reflects the light from said flashlight to illuminate the tray throughout.

9. The illuminated tray according to claim 8 wherein said reflective material has indicia thereon identifying a name of a product and that the name is illuminated when said light source shines in said tray.

10. The tray according to claim 1 wherein containers can be placed in the openings of said tray.

11. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein the photoluminescent material forming the tray is coated with phosphorescent coating to further enhance glowing of the tray.

12. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said photoluminescent material is a highly fluorescent material.

13. The illuminated tray according to claim 12 wherein said highly fluorescent material is made from sheet material.

14. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said reflective material is adhesively applied to said tray.

15. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said reflective material is stamped on to said tray.

16. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said reflective material is silk screened on to said tray.

17. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is injection molded.

18. The illuminated tray according to claim 17 wherein said light source has a housing and said housing is part of said injection molded tray.

19. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is circularly shaped.

20. The illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said at least one said light source is two light sources.

21. An illuminated hand-held serving tray, according to claim 1 wherein said tray includes a handle portion for carrying said tray.

22. An illuminated hand-held serving tray according to claim 21 wherein said light source is a flashlight and said flashlight has a casing which acts as said handle.

23. An illuminated tray according to claim 1 wherein said reflective material is a reflective label covering at least a portion of said tray.