Collapsible serving tray

Abstract

A collapsible serving tray that is stiff and flat when open and reduced in size and compact when folded. The tray is designed to be folded up into a compact size that is about one-quarter of the fully deployed size of the tray. One embodiment of the tray includes a perimeter edge that is ninety degrees to the flat serving surface when the tray is fully deployed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A foldable apparatus comprising; 
 a. a first, a second, a third, and a fourth plate segment, said plate segments being configured to fit together so as to form a single plate configuration when mechanically connected, each said plate segment having a top surface and a bottom surface;    b. a first hinge mechanically connecting the top surface of the first plate segment with the top surface of the second plate segment;    c. a second hinge mechanically connecting the top surface of the third plate segment with the top surface of the fourth plate segment;    d. a third hinge mechanically connecting the bottom surface of the second plate segment with the bottom surface of the third plate segment;    e. whereby the first, second, third, and fourth plate segments can reversibly fold and unfold between a folded configuration approximately the size of a single segment and a plate configuration; and    f. means disposed relative to at least three of the plate segments for reversibly maintaining planar rigidity when the segments are unfolded into the plate configuration.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising elastic means for reversibly pulling plate segments from the folded configuration into the plate configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the means of subparagraph f comprises a plurality of rim pieces connected to one another by an elastic mechanism such that when the apparatus is deployed into the plate configuration the rim pieces are pulled together to form a quasi-continuous rim perpendicular to the plane of the plate configuration, whereby the plate configuration is reinforced to remain in the plate configuration.  
     
     
         4 . A collapsible serving tray configured to have a stiff and flat serving surface when fully deployed and a reduced size of about one-quarter of its fully deployed size when folded up.  
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4  wherein the serving surface comprises an assembly of four separate quadrants three of which are attached by hinges to at least one of the other quadrants.  
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 5  in which the unhinged edges of the quadrants include a tongue and groove joint to provide increased stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 5  in which an elastomeric material is bonded to the bottom surface of the quadrants to activate deployment of the tray and to provide increased stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 5  further comprising at least three two-part latching mechanisms wherein each said latching mechanism is connected by hinges to two of said quadrants to provide sufficient stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 8  in which the latching mechanisms are oriented into the same plane as the quadrants when the tray is folded up.  
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 8  in which the latching mechanisms are perpendicular to the quadrants when the tray is fully deployed.  
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 8  in which the unhinged edges of the quadrants include a tongue and groove joint to provide increased stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 5  in which an elastomeric material is bonded to the bottom surface of the quadrants to activate full deployment of the tray and to provide sufficient stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of edge portions that are connected by hinges to the perimeter of the serving surface and are perpendicular to the serving surface when the tray is fully deployed.  
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 13  in which the plural edge portions are oriented into the same plane as the quadrant they are connected to when the tray is folded.  
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 14  in which the edge portions are elastically connected to one another to activate full deployment of the tray and to provide sufficient stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 15  in which the elastic connection comprises at least one spring mechanism within at least one of the edge portions that connects all the other edge portions with a flexible cord.  
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 15  in which the unhinged edges of the quadrants include a tongue and groove joint to provide increased stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.  
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 15  in which an elastomeric material is bonded to the bottom surface of the quadrants to activate full deployment of the tray and to provide sufficient stiffness to the tray when it is fully deployed.