US3638849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding plastic tray
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-07-14
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A folding plastic tray for supporting solid food and beverages in cups, bottles, or cans on the seat of a motor vehicle. The tray has side members which fold down to engage the seat with the side members each having a lower edge which is straight for a portion of its length and curves downwardly for the remaining portion of its length. A locking flap is hingedly connected to the straight portion of the edge of the side member and has male snap elements integrally formed thereon which snap through openings in the tray bottom to lock the sides in their erected position. Ribs in the bottom of the tray support the solid foodstuffs above the snaps to prevent accidental disengagement of the snaps from the snap openings due to the pressure of foodstuff thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Harford E Goings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/34; B65D1/36; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S229/00; Y10S229/902; Y10S229/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A molded plastic serving tray comprising a generally rectangular top wall, a plurality of generally circular depressions formed in said top wall for supporting cups, a generally rectangular central compartment formed in said top wall with said central compartment having a generally horizontal bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls hingedly connected to opposite side edges of said top wall, each of said sidewalls having a portion of its bottom edge straight and parallel with said top wall, and the remaining portion of said bottom edge curving downwardly, a flap hingedly secured to the bottom straight edge portion of each of said sidewalls, and means on said flaps for rigidly securing each of said flaps to the bottom wall of said compartment with said sidewalls in spaced parallel relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A molded plastic serving tray comprising a generally rectangular top wall, a plurality of generally circular depressions formed in said top wall for supporting cups, a generally rectangular central compartment formed in said top wall with said central compartment having a generally horizontal bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls hingedly connected to opposite side edges of said top wall, each of said sidewalls having a portion of its bottom edge straight and parallel with said top wall, and the remaining portion of said bottom edge curving downwardly, a flap hingedly secured to the bottom straight edge portion of each of said sidewalls, and means on said flaps for rigidly securing each of said flaps to the bottom wall of said compartment with said sidewalls in spaced parallel relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means on said flaps for rigidly securing said flaps to the bottom wall of said compartment comprises a pair of male snap members integrally formed in each of said flaps and a snap socket formed in the bottom wall of said compartment adjacent each corner thereof with each said male snap member engageable in one of said snap sockets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said male snap members each have a plurality of locking detents integrally formed thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tray is molded of relatively thin plastic and is nestable for shipment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein spaced parallel ribs are formed in the bottom wall of said compartment and extend up in the sidewalls thereof to support solid food therein above the male snap elements engaged thRough said snap sockets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |