Food or drink tray

Abstract

A food or drink tray is provided that includes a substrate having a curvilinear perimeter. The substrate has a top surface and bottom surface each extending along a first longitudinal axis and a second lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tray also has a rotatable handle hingedly coupled to an edge of the substrate. The handle is rotatable between at least two stable positions. Also, the handle has a cross section with at least one of an oblong, an obround, an oval and a crescent configuration. The tray also includes a rib coupled to a peripheral edge of the tray and extends away from the tray in a direction substantially opposite relative to the handle.

1 . A food or drink tray comprising:
 a substrate having a curvilinear perimeter, wherein the substrate comprises a top surface and bottom surface each extending along a first longitudinal axis and a second lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a rotatable handle hingedly coupled to an edge of the substrate, wherein the handle is rotatable between at least two stable positions, the handle having a cross section with at least one of an oblong, an obround, an oval and a crescent configuration; and   a rib coupled to a peripheral edge of the tray and extends away from the tray in a direction substantially opposite relative to the handle.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises at least one hinge coupled between the substrate and the rotatable handle. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two stable positions comprises an extended position and a folded position. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein handle in the extended position extends away from the bottom surface of the substrate in a direction transverse to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the handle in the folded position extends away from an edge of the substrate in a position transverse to the extended position of the handle and substantially parallel with a plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 4 , further comprising a rest contour for resting the tray on one of hips of a server, shoulder of a server, and a table surface. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the handle in the extended position facilitates the rest being set on one of the hips and shoulder of the server and the handle in the folded position facilitates the rest being set on one of the hips of the server and the table surface, wherein the handle is in a position to be securely gripped. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a knob to aid a server in securely gripping the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear shape of the substrate is heart shaped. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using a food or drink tray, the method comprising:
 rotating a rotatable handle about a hinge from a folded position to an extended when the tray is empty;   resting the tray on one of a server's hips and shoulder while the handle is gripped by the server;   filling the tray with one of food items, drink items and combinations thereof;   carrying the tray to a table;   rotating the rotatable handle to a folded position to rest the tray on the table; and   unloading the tray.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising retaining spills of one of food and drink on the tray by use of a rib.