Patent US4440303A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4440303A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tray

Assignee: King Seeley Thermos Co
•
Filing: 1981-11-16
•
Granted: 1984-04-03
•
Expires: 2001-11-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An improved insulated tray having both of its top and bottom surfaces configured so that either may receive food articles. In addition, the configuration is such that the trays may be stacked one upon the other in a wide variety of configurations. When so stacked, the depressions in the upper tray serve to provide a closure for the depressions in the lower tray.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard H. Seager

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 23:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/38; B65D81/3825; B65D81/383; B65D1/00; B65D1/34; B65D1/36; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/0209

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 232 words
An insulated tray having spaced upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces being formed with a plurality of different shaped depression means therein for receipt of food articles or the like, said depressions including a pair of elongated depressions each extending along one side of said upper surface substantially between opposite marginal edges, said elongated depressions each having the same configuration, said depressions on said upper surface and said lower surface being configured to present the same appearance regardless of which surface faces upwardly and regardless of which said of the exposed surfaces lies to the right of the viewer, interlocking means formed on said upper surface, and interlocking means formed on said lower surface, said interlocking means comprising only a relatively shallow recess and a complimentary relatively low projection formed adjacent each other on each of the marginal edges of each of said tray surfaces, said recesses and said projections lying on opposite quadrants of the respective tray surfaces, said recesses and said projections having a U-shape in plan, said upper and lower surface interlocking means being configured so that pairs of said trays may be stacked one upon the other and interlocked against relative transverse movement, said interlock means being further configured so that the pairs of trays may be stacked with either tray inverted relative to the other with both trays upright, or with both trays inverted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 232 words
An insulated tray having spaced upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces being formed with a plurality of different shaped depression means therein for receipt of food articles or the like, said depressions including a pair of elongated depressions each extending along one side of said upper surface substantially between opposite marginal edges, said elongated depressions each having the same configuration, said depressions on said upper surface and said lower surface being configured to present the same appearance regardless of which surface faces upwardly and regardless of which said of the exposed surfaces lies to the right of the viewer, interlocking means formed on said upper surface, and interlocking means formed on said lower surface, said interlocking means comprising only a relatively shallow recess and a complimentary relatively low projection formed adjacent each other on each of the marginal edges of each of said tray surfaces, said recesses and said projections lying on opposite quadrants of the respective tray surfaces, said recesses and said projections having a U-shape in plan, said upper and lower surface interlocking means being configured so that pairs of said trays may be stacked one upon the other and interlocked against relative transverse movement, said interlock means being further configured so that the pairs of trays may be stacked with either tray inverted relative to the other with both trays upright, or with both trays inverted.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3191791A Cited
US3283891A Cited
US3346137A Cited
US3532247A Cited
US4014450A Cited
US3908852A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-04-03 1987-10-03 1988-04-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-04-03 1991-10-03 1992-04-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-04-03 1995-10-03 1996-04-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag