Patent US750649A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5348218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concession tray
Assignee: Alpha Products Inc
•
Filing: 1993-05-19
•
Granted: 1994-09-20
•
Expires: 2013-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A concession tray comprises a base panel, side panels and end panels. The end panels are relatively higher than the side panels. The tray includes a cup holder which comprises adjacent portions of the base panel and an end panel, respectively. In cooperation with portions of the end panel, the cup holder stably supports a broad range of sizes of beverage cups. The concession tray is formed from paperboard having a thickness of at least 0.026 inches and the maximum linear dimension of any side of the tray does not exceed about 13.5 inches.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Haire
- 👤 Steven Attman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/44; B65D5/50; B65D5/5021; B65D5/36; B65D5/3607; B65D5/3635; B65D5/3642; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S229/00; Y10S229/902; Y10S229/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
356 words
A concession tray for carrying food items and cups, comprising: a base panel, side panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, and end panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines; said end panels intersecting said side panels and forming a folding structure at the intersections whereby said tray may be selectively set in a folded configuration wherein said tray is substantially flat with said side and end panels lying substantially adjacent to said base panel or in an erected configuration with said side panels and end panels substantially perpendicular to said base panel; a cup holder associated with at least one of said end panels, said cup holder comprising a first part formed of a portion of said one end panel and hinged to said one end panel about a fold line, and a second part formed of a portion of said base panel and hinged to said base panel about a fold line, whereby said cup holder may be selectively set in a retracted position with said first part substantially coplanar with said one end panel and said second part substantially coplanar with said base panel or an extended position with said first part substantially perpendicular to said one end panel and substantially parallel to said base panel and said second part substantially perpendicular to said base panel and substantially parallel to said one end panel; wherein said end panels are higher than said side panels in said erected configuration and said second part of said cup holder is substantially as high, in said extended position, as said side panels; said end panels comprising extended portions which are attached to said side panels, whereby said end panels form relatively high portions on each side of the intersections of said end panels and adjacent side panels, whereby said relatively high portions on each side of the intersections may engage at two points a cup placed in said cup holder; wherein said tray is constructed of paperboard having a minimum thickness of 0.026 inches and the length and width of said base panel of said tray each does not exceed about 13.5 inches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
356 words
A concession tray for carrying food items and cups, comprising: a base panel, side panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, and end panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines; said end panels intersecting said side panels and forming a folding structure at the intersections whereby said tray may be selectively set in a folded configuration wherein said tray is substantially flat with said side and end panels lying substantially adjacent to said base panel or in an erected configuration with said side panels and end panels substantially perpendicular to said base panel; a cup holder associated with at least one of said end panels, said cup holder comprising a first part formed of a portion of said one end panel and hinged to said one end panel about a fold line, and a second part formed of a portion of said base panel and hinged to said base panel about a fold line, whereby said cup holder may be selectively set in a retracted position with said first part substantially coplanar with said one end panel and said second part substantially coplanar with said base panel or an extended position with said first part substantially perpendicular to said one end panel and substantially parallel to said base panel and said second part substantially perpendicular to said base panel and substantially parallel to said one end panel; wherein said end panels are higher than said side panels in said erected configuration and said second part of said cup holder is substantially as high, in said extended position, as said side panels; said end panels comprising extended portions which are attached to said side panels, whereby said end panels form relatively high portions on each side of the intersections of said end panels and adjacent side panels, whereby said relatively high portions on each side of the intersections may engage at two points a cup placed in said cup holder; wherein said tray is constructed of paperboard having a minimum thickness of 0.026 inches and the length and width of said base panel of said tray each does not exceed about 13.5 inches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A concession tray as in claim 1, wherein said first and second parts of said cup holder are hinged together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A concession tray as in claim 1, wherein said first part of said cup holder comprises flexible tabs for engaging a cup within said holder, whereby said cup holder stably holds cups of varying diameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A concession tray as in claim 3, wherein said second part of said cup holder comprises at least one flexible tab for engaging a cup within said holder, whereby said cup holder stably holds cups of varying diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A concession tray as in claim 1, wherein said extended portions of said end panels comprise locking tabs and said base panel comprises slots, wherein said locking tabs are received within and extend through said slots to retain said tray in the erected configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A concession tray as in claim 5 wherein said locking tabs extend, in the erected configuration of said tray, through said slots and terminate at a position below the bottom surface of said base panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A concession tray as in claim 1, wherein said cup holder, in the extended position, forms a handle for carrying said tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A concession tray as in claim 1, wherein said cup holder, in the extended position, forms a handle for carrying said tray, said first part of said cup holder forming a finger engaging surface of said handle for carrying said tray, said finger engaging surface being spaced above the base panel of said tray when said tray is in the erected configuration and said cup holder is in the extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
342 words
A concession tray for carrying food items and cups, comprising: a base panel, side panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, and end panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines; said end panels intersecting said side panels and forming a folding structure at the intersections whereby said tray may be selectively set in a folded configuration wherein said tray is substantially flat with said side and end panels lying substantially adjacent to said base panel or in an erected configuration with said side panels and end panels substantially perpendicular to said base panel; a cup holder associated with at least one of said end panels, said cup holder comprising a first part formed of a portion of said one end panel and hinged to said one end panel about a fold line, and a second part formed of a portion of said base panel and hinged to said base panel about a fold line, whereby said cup holder may be selectively set in a retracted position with said first part substantially coplanar with said one end panel and said second part substantially coplanar with said base panel or an extended position with said first part substantially perpendicular to said one end panel and substantially parallel to said base panel and said second part substantially perpendicular to said base panel and substantially parallel to said one end panel; wherein said end panels are higher than said side panels in said erected configuration and said second part of said cup holder is substantially as high, in said extended position, as said side panels; said end panels comprising extended portions which are attached to said side panels, whereby said end panels form relatively high portions on each side of the intersections of said end panels and adjacent side panels, whereby said relatively high portions on each side of the intersections may engage at two points a cup placed in said cup holder; wherein the length and width of said base panel of said tray each does not exceed about 13.5 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
342 words
A concession tray for carrying food items and cups, comprising: a base panel, side panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, and end panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines; said end panels intersecting said side panels and forming a folding structure at the intersections whereby said tray may be selectively set in a folded configuration wherein said tray is substantially flat with said side and end panels lying substantially adjacent to said base panel or in an erected configuration with said side panels and end panels substantially perpendicular to said base panel; a cup holder associated with at least one of said end panels, said cup holder comprising a first part formed of a portion of said one end panel and hinged to said one end panel about a fold line, and a second part formed of a portion of said base panel and hinged to said base panel about a fold line, whereby said cup holder may be selectively set in a retracted position with said first part substantially coplanar with said one end panel and said second part substantially coplanar with said base panel or an extended position with said first part substantially perpendicular to said one end panel and substantially parallel to said base panel and said second part substantially perpendicular to said base panel and substantially parallel to said one end panel; wherein said end panels are higher than said side panels in said erected configuration and said second part of said cup holder is substantially as high, in said extended position, as said side panels; said end panels comprising extended portions which are attached to said side panels, whereby said end panels form relatively high portions on each side of the intersections of said end panels and adjacent side panels, whereby said relatively high portions on each side of the intersections may engage at two points a cup placed in said cup holder; wherein the length and width of said base panel of said tray each does not exceed about 13.5 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
218 words
A concession tray for carrying food items and cups, comprising: a base panel, side panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, and end panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, said end panels intersecting said side panels and forming a folding structure at the intersections whereby said tray is movable between a folded substantially flat configuration and an erected configuration with said side panels and end panels substantially perpendicular to said base panel; a cup holder associated with at least one of said end panels, said cup holder comprising a first part formed of a portion of said one end panel and hinged to said one end panel about a fold line and a second part formed of a portion of said base panel and hinged to said base panel about a fold line, wherein in said erect configuration of said tray, said cup holder may be selectively set in a retracted position with said first part substantially coplanar with said one end panel and said second part substantially coplanar with said base panel or an extended position with said first part substantially perpendicular to said one end panel and substantially parallel to said base panel and said second part substantially perpendicular to said base panel and substantially parallel to said one end panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
218 words
A concession tray for carrying food items and cups, comprising: a base panel, side panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, and end panels hinged to said base panel about fold lines, said end panels intersecting said side panels and forming a folding structure at the intersections whereby said tray is movable between a folded substantially flat configuration and an erected configuration with said side panels and end panels substantially perpendicular to said base panel; a cup holder associated with at least one of said end panels, said cup holder comprising a first part formed of a portion of said one end panel and hinged to said one end panel about a fold line and a second part formed of a portion of said base panel and hinged to said base panel about a fold line, wherein in said erect configuration of said tray, said cup holder may be selectively set in a retracted position with said first part substantially coplanar with said one end panel and said second part substantially coplanar with said base panel or an extended position with said first part substantially perpendicular to said one end panel and substantially parallel to said base panel and said second part substantially perpendicular to said base panel and substantially parallel to said one end panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said first and second parts of said cup holder are connected to each other by one or more fold lines which permit said cup holder to be selectively set in the retracted position or the extended position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said end one panel in said erected configuration is higher than said second part of said cup holder in said extended position; said one end panel intersecting said side panels and comprising extended portions which are attached to said side panels, whereby said end panel forms relatively high portions on each side of the intersections of said one end panel and adjacent side panels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A concession tray as in claim 12, wherein said one end panel is higher than said side panels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said one end panel is higher than said second part of said cup holder when said tray is in the erected configuration and said cup holder is in said extended position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said one end panel and at least a portion of said side panels adjacent the intersections with said one end panel are higher than said second part of said cup holder when said tray is in the erected configuration and said cup holder is in said extended position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said first and second parts of said cup holder are hinged together at a fold line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said cup holder comprises a first cup holder fold line which defines the intersection of said first and second parts of said cup holder in the extended position, and a second cup holder fold line which is coincident with the fold line hinging said one end panel to said base panel when said cup holder is in the retracted position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said cup holder in the extended position forms a handle for carrying said tray.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A concession tray as in claim 10, wherein said tray is constructed of paperboard having a minimum thickness of 0.026 inches.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A concession tray as in claim 19, wherein the length and width of the base panel of said tray each does not exceed about 13.5 inches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2679971A
Cited
US2794585A
Cited
US2833458A
Cited
US3174674A
Cited
US3189247A
Cited
CH417461A
Cited
US3434649A
Cited
US4489879A
Cited
US4757937A
Cited
US4893773A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |