US4534469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tray assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-11-02
•
Granted: 1985-08-13
•
Expires: 2003-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A tray assembly having a self-contained drinking cup and utensils. The drinking cup is removably mounted on the tray and is movable between a folded storage position and an upright usage position. A clip on the side of the tray holds the cup in its storage position. The tray is also covered with a cellophane seal which is bonded to the clip. The clip engages a rod extending across the interior of a housing containing the trays so that when a tray is removed the clip automatically breaks the cellophane seal and releases the cup.
Inventors
- 👤 Thad F. Elsmo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:32
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G19/00; A47G19/02; A47G19/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A tray assembly, comprising a tray member having a substantially planar web portion and a pocket extending downwardly from said web portion defined by a bottom wall spaced from said web portion and side walls interconnecting said bottom wall and web portion, a cup member removably mounted in said pocket and movable between a folded storage position and an upright usage position, said cup member includes a substantially cylindrical body open at its top and closed at its bottom, said body defining an upright longitudinal axis when in said usage position, and means for folding said body to said storage position wherein said body extends normal to said upright axis, and means for releasably holding said cup member in its storage position, said releasable holding means includes a clip member having one end connected to said web portion and its other end projecting inwardly toward said pocket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A tray assembly, comprising a tray member having a substantially planar web portion and a pocket extending downwardly from said web portion defined by a bottom wall spaced from said web portion and side walls interconnecting said bottom wall and web portion, a cup member removably mounted in said pocket and movable between a folded storage position and an upright usage position, said cup member includes a substantially cylindrical body open at its top and closed at its bottom, said body defining an upright longitudinal axis when in said usage position, and means for folding said body to said storage position wherein said body extends normal to said upright axis, and means for releasably holding said cup member in its storage position, said releasable holding means includes a clip member having one end connected to said web portion and its other end projecting inwardly toward said pocket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the entire cup member is located within said one pocket when in said storage position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said folding means includes a pair of score lines in said body positioned diametrically opposite one another and extending from the top to the bottom of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tray assembly of claim 3, further including a relief slot for each of said score lines cutout of said cup body at the location where said score lines communicate with said open top.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said folding means includes a corrugated portion at the lower end of said cup body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the open end of the body of said cup member includes a circumferential lip at least a portion of which extends under the other end of said clip member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tray assembly of claim 1, further including utensil-holding means adjacent said cup member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tray member of claim 7, wherein said utensil-holding means includes a plurality of integral collar members projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of said one pocket each forming a utensil-receiving pocket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable mounting means for said cup member includes a pair of locking tabs on said cup member and a corresponding pair of integral projections extending upwardly from the bottom wall of said one pocket forming oppositely opening tab-receiving slots whereby said cup member may be rotated in one direction for mounting on said tray member and in the opposite direction for removal from said tray member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
In combination, a tray member having a substantially planar web portion and a pocket extending downwardly from said web portion defined by a bottom wall spaced from said web portion and side walls interconnecting said bottom wall and web portion, covering means overlying said web portion and pocket for sealingly covering said tray member, housing means including a pair of side walls defining a compartment for slidably receiving and supporting said tray member, and cooperating means on said tray member and said housing means for automatically breaking said sealing cover when said tray member is removed from said housing means, said cooperating means includes a rod within said compartment extending across said housing means between said side walls and a clip member having one end connected to said web portion and its other end projecting inwardly toward said pocket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
In combination, a tray member having a substantially planar web portion and a pocket extending downwardly from said web portion defined by a bottom wall spaced from said web portion and side walls interconnecting said bottom wall and web portion, covering means overlying said web portion and pocket for sealingly covering said tray member, housing means including a pair of side walls defining a compartment for slidably receiving and supporting said tray member, and cooperating means on said tray member and said housing means for automatically breaking said sealing cover when said tray member is removed from said housing means, said cooperating means includes a rod within said compartment extending across said housing means between said side walls and a clip member having one end connected to said web portion and its other end projecting inwardly toward said pocket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said clip member includes an abutment surface at said other end and an inclined top surface that is higher at said other end than at said one end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said tray member includes a cup member removably mounted in said pocket and movable between a folded storage position and an upright usage position, said cup member includes a circumferential lip at least a portion of which extends under said other end of said clip member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |