Title: Combination serving tray with removable insert for serving means

Description: This invention is concerned with serving units of the general kind described in co-pending application Ser. No. 271,588 filed July 13, 1972.

This invention minimizes the amount of effort required when preparing cold and hot meals from a combination serving tray containing a removable insert formed with a plurality of openings for the storage of containers; it also simplifies the handling of containers which require heating prior to the consumption of their contents.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the serving tray with the attached insert for the storage of containers;

FIG. 2 is an exploded top perspective view of the tray of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view broken away and taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

The combination serving tray is a further development of the invention described in co-pending application Ser. No. 271,558, having as one of its objectives an esthetically pleasing and particularly compact combination of a serving tray and a removable insert, suitable for the serving of meals intended particularly for mass consumption.

The invention is a modification of the invention described in said application; referring in particular to reference numeral 2 of said application, the fact that the insert for the storage of containers in conjunction with these containers forms a serving tray of its own, and that the remainder of the serving tray can be discarded, constitutes the gist of this invention.

Provision is made for insert 2 to be attached to service tray 3, and to be easily removed from service tray 3, if desired. An attachment of this type can be formed, for example, by making provision for a recess or indentation 4 covering the circumference of the upper portion of the rim of serving tray 3 and providing a corresponding fitting protrusion P along the circumference of insert 2, whereby insert 2 can be snugly inserted into serving tray 3 by applying a slight pressure on insert 2; insert 2 is formed with a plurality of holes 5 for the insertion of cans.

Other variations of such an easily removable insert are possible, such as making provision for a recess or indentation in insert 2, and providing for a corresponding protrusion along the circumference of service tray 3.

In any event, the serving tray 3 is formed with a circumferential ledge for lifting the combination S or the tray 3 alone. The insert 2 is also formed with lifting flats 7 extending outwardly from indented portions of wall 9 and between raised container receiving holes 5 formed in top 8 of the insert supported by wall 9 providing extra vertical space for containers. Inner skirts 10 form depending surfaces of revolutions about the holes 5 for strengthening the top 8.

Several cans can be inserted very easily into the combination service tray. The whole package may be wrapped in transparent foil, and the consumer, upon wishing to serve a meal, need only remove the insert from the serving tray and heat the cans in either hot water or in a suitable domestic oven. Furthermore, the consumer can, if he desires, also prepare an additional dish of basic food, such as cooked potatoes, noodles or rice, and serve the resulting meal either on a separate plate or on said serving tray. This latter possibility is particularly attractive where it is more economical to use disposable plates, as for example in some diners or restaurants, or whereever a large number of people have to be served a warm meal within a short time span.

The several parts of the combination are made of biodegradable material, so that the disposal of both the serving tray and the insert do not present a problem in garbage disposal.

It was found that pressed cardboard is a suitable material from which to manufacture insert 2 especially since it is slightly deformable to temporarily decrease the effective circumference of its periphery for inserting and rmoving the protrusion thereof into and out of the recess in the tray; the insert can be impregnated with a suitable resin, such as, for example, phenolic resin, or else can be similarly rendered tempeature- and water-resistant by the application of suitable paint. The serving tray can be made of suitable plastic material, the composition of which does not cause any problems in garbage disposal, i.e., no hydracid is formed when burning the material, or alternately, the material is made to be easily absorbed by naturally occurring bacteria in the earth.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.
Other info:


Inventors: Holz, Heinz (Hannover, DT)

Application Number: 414604
Filing Date: 1973-11-09
Publication_date: 1976-03-16
Assignee: FKF Berlin Fleischwaren und Konservenfabrik, Schulz & Berndt GmbH & Co. (Berlin, DT)
Primary Class(es): 220/527 206/563, 220/23.8, 220/23.83, 220/512, 229/406, D7/553.1
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2709904	Jun, 1955	Boughton	220/20.
2851154	Sep, 1958	Dingeldein	206/72.
3103303	Sep, 1963	Lynchey	206/72.
3113710	Dec, 1963	Meagher	220/23.
3305126	Feb, 1967	Cease	220/23.
3542280	Nov, 1970	Crabtree	229/15.
3643812	Feb, 1972	Mander	206/72.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Lowrance, George E.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Nolte & Nolte