Insulated covered serving tray

Claim 2

In combination, an insulated tray section having a plurality of recesses for receiving dishes and the like, at least one of the dish-receiving recesses being bordered by a flat annular supporting surface, a dish disposed within said one recess, said dish having a central depression and having a generally flat rim resting upon said annular supporting surface of said tray section and an insulated cover section extending over said tray section and having a dome-shaped recess above said dish, said dome-shaped recess having a diameter no greater than the diameter of the central depression of said dish, said cover also having an annular wall extending about said dome-shaped recess, said annular wall having a flat undersurface engaging the rim of said dish.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which said dome-shaped recess is of a diameter smaller than that of the central depression of said dish.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 in which said tray and cover sections are each generally rectangular in configuration.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which a plurality of dishes are disposed within the recesses of said tray section, said cover having a plurality of said dome-shaped recesses with the flat undersurfaces of the walls surrounding said dome-shaped recesses engaging the rims of said dishes.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 in which said tray section has a generally flat bottom surface, and a side wall extending about said tray section and projecting below the plane of said bottom surface to define a space therebeneath, said side wall having at least one pair of recesses aLong the bottom edge thereof and disposed at opposite sides of said tray section, said recesses being adapted to accommodate the fingers of a person carrying said tray section and communicating with said space to permit the circulation of air between adjacent tray sections when the same are stacked.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 in which said tray section has undersurface portions defining the upper limits of the finger recesses, the distance between said undersurface portions and the top of said cover being substantially less than 6 inches.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 in which said distance is less than 5 inches.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 in which said tray section is also provided with an open-topped compartment extending along a portion of a side wall of said tray section, said portion of said side wall being straight and having a round upper edge when viewed in cross section, and a card being folded over said rounded upper edge, said card having a first portion projecting downwardly into said compartment and a second portion extending downwardly alongside the outer surface of said side wall portion, said cover being provided with means for holding said card in place.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8 in which said second portion of said card has an outer surface thereof bearing indicia concerning the destination of the tray assembly and the contents thereof.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 in which said means provided by said cover section for holding said card in place comprises a side wall of said cover section having a lower edge extending along the side wall portion of said tray section and engaging said card.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 1 in which one of said recesses of said tray section is adapted to receive a handle-equipped drinking cup, said tray section also having an enlarged open-topped compartment adjacent said cup-receiving recess, and an upstanding wall between said compartment and said cup-receiving recess, said wall being provided with a notch for accommodating the handle of a cup adapted to be supported in said recess.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 in which a drinking cup is disposed within said cup-receiving recess, said cup having a handle projecting through said notch and into said compartment, said handle thereby being restrained within said notch and being accessible within said compartment for the grasping and removing of the cup from said tray section.

Claim 14

In combination, an insulated tray section having a plurality of recesses for receiving dishes and the like, an insulated cover section extending over said tray section and having dome-shaped recesses above said dish-receiving recesses, said tray section having a generally flat bottom surface and a side wall extending about and projecting below the plane of said bottom surface to define a space therebeneath, said side wall having atleast one pair of recesses along the bottom edge at least and disposed at opposite sides of said tray section, said recesses being adapted to accommodate the fingers of the person carrying said tray section and communicating with said space to permit the circulation of air between adjacent tray sections when the same are stacked, said tray section being provided with an open-topped compartment extending along a portion of a side wall of said tray section, said portion of said side wall being straight and having a rounded upper edge when viewed in cross section, and a card being folded over said rounded upper edge, said card having a first portion projecting downwardly into said compartment and a second portion extending downwardly alongside the outer surface of said side wall of said tray section, said cover being provided with means for holding said card in place.

Claim 15

In combination, an insulated tray section having a plurality of recesses for receiving dishes and the like, an insulated cover section extending over said tray section and having dome-shaped recesses above said dish-receiving recesses, said tray section having a generally flat bottom surface and a side wall extending about and projecting below the plane of said bottom surface to define a space therebeneath, said side wall having atleast one pair of recesses along the bottom edge at least and disposed at opposite sides of said tray section, said recesses being adapted to accommodate the fingers of the person carrying said tray section and communicating with said space to permit the circulation of air between adjacent tray sections when the same are stacked, said tray section being provided with an open-topped compartment extending along a portion of a side wall of said tray section, said portion of said side wall being straight and having a rounded upper edge when viewed in cross section, and a card being folded over said rounded upper edge, said card having a first portion projecting downwardly into said compartment and a second portion extending downwardly alongside the outer surface of said side wall of said tray section, said cover being provided with means for holding said card in place.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13 in which said second portion of said card has an outer surface thereof bearing indicia concerning the destination of the tray assembly and the contents thereof.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 13 in which said means provided by said cover section for holding said card in place comprises a side wall of said cover section having a lower edge extending along the side wall portion of said tray section and engaging said card.