Beverage server tray

• US 8,246,190 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Boiteau, Rocio Curran
• Original Assignee: Michael Boiteau, Rocio Curran
• Inventors: Boiteau, Michael, Curran, Rocio
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US12/724,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20110226635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362154-155, 362/234, 362/253, D75/521, D75/522, 206/139, 206/201, 206/203, 206561-563, 220/507, 220/574, 220/755, 220/756
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0641 provided with a plurality of openings, e.g. for carrying glasses, bottles or the like

Abstract

A beverage serving tray for holding, supporting, carrying and serving beverages including a receptacle plate for holding beverage containers and a bottom plate for supporting the bottom of the beverage containers, a plurality of removable vertical supports located along a perimeter for rigidly supporting and connecting the receptacle plate and the bottom plate at a distance and a cylindrical handle projecting from a side of the bottom plate for carrying the beverage tray.

Claims

1. A beverage serving tray for holding, supporting, carrying and serving beverages, comprising:

a top plate having receptacles therein for holding beverage containers therewithin;

a bottom support plate positioned at a distance below the top plate for supporting a bottom portion of the beverage containers;

a plurality of vertical supports located along a perimeter for rigidly supporting the top receptacle plate and the bottom support plate together; and

a handle projecting from the bottom support plate for carrying and serving beverages to persons in a restaurant or in a gathering.

2. The beverage serving tray according to claim 1, wherein the handle is formed of an upper and a lower cylindrical hemispherical section.

3. The handle according to claim 2, wherein the lower hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section includes a finger gripping surface.

4. The handle according to claim 2, wherein the upper hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section includes an integral flange disposed at right angles.

5. The handle according to claim 2, wherein the lower hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section includes an integral flange disposed at right angles.

6. The beverage serving tray according to claim 1, wherein the bottom support plate and the integral flange of the upper hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section form a monolithic structure.

7. The bottom support plate according to claim 6, wherein the bottom support plate includes a plurality of ribs along an underside of the support plate.

8. The bottom support plate according to claim 7, wherein the ribs span transversally and longitudinally along the underside.

9. The cylindrical handle according to claim 2, wherein the lower hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section and the integral flange are fixedly attached to a T-shaped support structure.

10. The lower hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section of claim 9, wherein the T-shaped support structure includes mini-lights.

11. The cylindrical handle according to claim 2, wherein the lower hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section including the T-shaped structure form a duct with the upper hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section including the bottom support plate for carrying an LED circuit therewithin.

12. The cylindrical handle according to claim 2, wherein the upper hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section includes a light switch for turning the mini-lights on and off.

13. The beverage serving tray according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical handle includes an embedded rechargeable battery.

14. The beverage serving tray according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical handle includes a socket for receiving a charge from a power outlet of a house current via a power cord.

15. The beverage serving tray according to claim 1, wherein a set of four mini-lights are positioned along the underside at each corner of the bottom support plate.

16. The cylindrical handle according to claim 2, wherein the upper and the lower hemi-spherical cylindrical handle section are fixedly secured by screws.

17. A beverage serving tray assembly for holding, supporting, carrying and serving beverages comprising:

an upper assembly comprising a top plate having receptacles adapted for holding beverages therein provided with removably attachable vertical supports for holding the upper assembly;

a lower assembly comprising a bottom plate provided with a plurality of ribs along an underside of the bottom plate and including removably attachable vertical supports for holding the lower assembly; and

a support assembly comprising a cylindrical handle with an attached T-support structure adapted for supporting and carrying the upper and lower assemblies monolithically attached together for serving the beverages.

18. The beverage serving tray assembly according to claim 17, wherein the assembly can be packaged into a compact, flat shape for portability and shipping in order to minimize any damage to the serving tray structure during shipment.

19. The beverage serving tray assembly according to claim 17, wherein two of the lower vertical supports of the lower assembly located at a distal end of the cylindrical handle of the support assembly are removed and whereby an underside of the support assembly can directly be placed on an edge of a flat surface of a table top or a trolley.