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Molded storage tray for concessions

Molded storage tray for concessions description/claims

The present invention relates to a molded storage tray, and in particular to a molded storage tray supportable in a beverage holder in an armrest for storing one or more concessions.

Storage containers and trays are commonly provided at entertainment and sporting events for storing and transporting concessions. These concessions may include popcorn, candy, hot dogs and carbonated beverages which patrons purchase from concession stands and consume in the comfort of their respective chairs at the entertainment or sporting event. In many instances, providing patrons with a convenient means for storing and enjoying concessions at their respective chairs adds to their overall enjoyment of the entertainment or sporting events.

Given that concession sales represent a sizeable source of revenue for entertainment and sport event operators, many operators have sought convenient means for enabling patrons to transport and enjoy purchased concessions at their chairs during such events. This need is addressed to some extent by commercially available pre-formed, rigid trays that are adapted for repetitive uses by patrons over an extended period of time. Such rigid trays are commonly used in cafeteria settings and are manufactured from durable materials such as, for example, plastic and metal. While trays manufactured from rigid materials are able to withstand multiple uses, they can be cumbersome for patrons to comfortably carry and position on their lap while enjoying the entertainment or sporting event. Moreover, the bulky nature of these rigid trays make them unsuitable for use in the confined spaces behind most concession stands.

Alternative rigid trays have been developed which have integrally formed beverage holders that are adapted to be received within cup holders formed in the chair arms at most entertainment and sporting events. By positioning a beverage or similarly weighted concession within the beverage holder, the rigid tray is substantially stabilized in relation to the cup holder of the chair. While rigid trays having beverage holders that are inserted into the cup holders of chairs provide a convenient means for patrons to enjoy their concessions and beverages, such rigid trays are prone to instability when the concessions are removed from the beverage holders. This instability often results in the concessions toppling over on the patrons and the aisles of the entertainment and sporting events. Moreover, these rigid trays often extend along the chair arm, thereby blocking the patrons from resting their elbows and arms on the chair arm. The interference of these rigid trays over prolonged entertainment and sporting events may cause patrons to experience poor posture and discomfort in their shoulders and back. Of course, upon consuming the concessions, the patron could opt to remove the rigid tray from the chair arm and discard it on the floor beneath their respective chairs. However, in most entertainment and sporting events, there is often minimal space beneath the chairs for disposing of the bulky rigid trays. Consequently, as patrons are entering and exiting from the entertainment and sporting event, the discarded rigid trays along the aisles pose a serious trip hazard. Moreover, in view of the unsanitary conditions of the floors of most entertainment and sporting events, the discarded rigid trays must be collected by event personnel and thoroughly cleaned before the trays may be provided to subsequent patrons. The collection and cleaning of the rigid trays in this manner results in a considerable additional expense for the operators of entertainment and sporting events.

Accordingly, there is a need for a concession tray which allows for more convenient storage and support of one or more concessions in relation to the cup holder in a chair arm. There is a further need for a concession tray which does not interfere with the patron's enjoyment of the concessions and/or the entertainment or sporting event. There is also a need for a low cost concession tray which does not require cleaning or other cumbersome facilities for storing and handling the trays. Moreover, there is a need for a single use concession tray which may be recycled following use by patrons.

The present invention provides a storage tray that is supportable in a beverage holder of an armrest in a seating structure. In particular, the present invention is directed to a storage tray consisting of a body member having a base and a plurality of sloping side walls extending outwardly from the base and terminating at an upper edge. The base is provided with one or more stiffening ribs extending upwardly from the base and converging towards a dividing rib member. The dividing rib member extends between at least two sloping side walls and defining a first concession compartment and a second compartment in the base. The body member is manufactured of molded pulp material.

The first concession compartment formed in the body member has a beverage recess member extending downwardly from the base. The beverage recess has an outer wall and a bottom wall. The outer wall and the bottom wall being dimensioned for frictionally engaging with the beverage holder of the armrest for supporting the body member in a substantially horizontal plane.

The second concession compartment may be formed with a stand member extending downwardly from the base and having a lower stand wall for supporting the body member on a flat surface. The bottom wall and the lower stand wall are substantially aligned in a common horizontal plane and cooperate to support the body member in a common horizontal plane and cooperate to support the body member in a substantially horizontal plane on a flat surface.

The stiffening rib members provided in the base extending between the sloping side walls and the dividing rib member. The stiffening rib members having a first end integrally formed with the sloping side walls and a second end integrally formed with the dividing rib member. Each of the one or more stiffening rib members gradually tapering from the first end to the second end. The height of each of the stiffening rib members at the second end is greater than the height of each of the stiffening rib members at the first end. By this design, the one or more stiffening rib members are adaptable for resisting deformation of the body member when one or more concessions are stored within the first and second concession compartments and the body member is supportingly engaged in the beverage holder of the armrest. The one or more stiffening rib members defining one or more concessions recesses in the base of the second concession compartment. Each of the one or more concession recesses adapted to accommodate one or more concessions.

Each of the side wall portions are formed with a peripheral rim proximate to the upper edge of the body member. A tray member may be optionally positioned upon the peripheral rim for enclosing the first and second concession compartments, wherein the peripheral rim supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane. Alternatively, the tray member optionally positioned upon the peripheral rim and the dividing rib member for enclosing the first and second concession compartments. By this design, the peripheral rim and the dividing rib member supportingly engaging at least a portion of the tray member and maintaining the tray member in a substantially horizontal plane. The tray member is formed with at least one beverage cup aperture that vertically aligns with the beverage recess member in the first concession compartment when the tray member supportingly engaged in the peripheral rim. The tray member providing a substantially planar surface for supporting one or more concessions.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a storage tray made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention supported in a substantially horizontal plane in relation to an armreset of a seating structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the storage tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the storage tray of FIG. 1 along section A-A;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the second concession compartment of the storage tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the first concession compartment of the storage tray of FIG. 1;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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