Food preparation and distribution tray

Abstract

A food preparation and distribution tray is disclosed. The tray is adapted to receive and support cups, such as paper “patty” cups, for preparing food products. The tray has a plurality of openings for receiving cups. The tray also includes a support means for supporting the sides of the cups at two or more heights of the cups. The sides of the cups are not otherwise supported. In use, the cups are positioned in the openings and the sides are supported at two or more heights of the cups by the support means. The support means may, in effect, suspend the cups above a base of the tray. Alternatively, the tray may be formed so that the cups are supported by the tray base and the support means.

1 . A food preparation and distribution tray for receiving and supporting cups, such as paper “patty” cups, for preparing food products, which tray includes a means for supporting the sides of a plurality of food preparation cups at two or more spaced-apart heights of the cups.  
   
   
       2 . The tray defined in  claim 1  wherein the support means for the sides of the cups includes an upper wall and a lower wall of the tray, with the walls having aligned openings for receiving the plurality of cups and supporting the sides of the cups at two or more heights of the cups.  
   
   
       3 . The tray defined in  claim 1  wherein the upper wall is adapted to support the cups at a position that is ⅔ of the height of the cups.  
   
   
       4 . The tray defined in  claim 1  wherein the lower wall is adapted to support the cups at a position that is ⅓ of the height of the cups.  
   
   
       5 . The tray defined in  claim 1  wherein the cups include an open top end, a base, and downwardly and inwardly tapering sides and the openings in the upper wall are larger than the openings in the lower wall.  
   
   
       6 . The tray defined in  claim 1  is a box-type construction.  
   
   
       7 . The tray defined in  claim 6  wherein the upper wall forms an upper wall of the box.  
   
   
       8 . The tray defined in  claim 6  wherein lower wall forms a lower wall of the box.  
   
   
       9 . The tray defined in  claim 6  includes a base wall that forms a base wall of the box and the lower wall is parallel to and between the upper and base walls.  
   
   
       10 . The tray defined in  claim 1  includes side walls.  
   
   
       11 . The tray defined  claim 10  wherein at least one of the side walls includes openings to allow hot air to circulate into and from the tray to facilitate baking of products in the cups.  
   
   
       12 . The tray defined  claim 1  includes end walls.  
   
   
       13 . The tray defined  claim 10  wherein at least one of the end walls includes openings to allow air to circulate into and from the tray to facilitate baking of products in the cups.  
   
   
       14 . The tray defined in  claim 1  includes downwardly depending legs to space the lower wall of the tray above a base surface.  
   
   
       15 . The tray defined in  claim 14  wherein one of the legs is a downward extension of one of the side walls.  
   
   
       16 . The tray defined in  claim 1  includes internal partitions that space apart the upper and lower walls.  
   
   
       17 . A carton board preform for forming the tray defined in  claim 1  includes (a) a sleeve having a plurality of panels that form at least the upper, lower, and side walls of the tray and (b) flaps extending from the ends of the sleeve that form the end walls of the tray.  
   
   
       18 . The preform defined in  claim 17  wherein the preform is manufactured in a flat form to facilitate packaging and transportation of the preform and can be erected into the tray as required.  
   
   
       19 . The preform defined in  claim 17  wherein the flaps include locking tabs that can engage the upper, lower, and side walls or are otherwise formed to form the end walls of the tray.  
   
   
       20 . The preform defined in  claim 17  wherein the panels of the sleeve include a panel that forms the base wall of the tray.  
   
   
       21 . A food preparation and distribution tray for receiving and supporting cups, such as paper “patty” cups, for preparing food products, which tray includes a means for supporting the sides a plurality of food preparation cups at least one height of the cups.  
   
   
       22 . A food preparation and distribution tray assembly for preparing food products, includes: (a) a tray that includes a base wall, at least one wall positioned above the base wall and having a plurality of openings for receiving and supporting the side of a plurality of food preparation cups, and (b) a plurality of empty cups located in the openings in the wall of the tray and supported by upper wall ready for food preparation in the tray.  
   
   
       23 . The tray assembly defined in  claim 21  includes an upper wall and a lower wall positioned above the base wall with the upper and lower walls having aligned openings receiving and supporting the plurality of food preparation cups.