Cracker serving and storage system

Abstract

A cracker serving and storage system includes a tray defining a trough having at least two sides and a slidable spacer configured to couple to the two sides and slide along the trough to capture the crackers in the tray. A storage container is also provided for storing the crackers and tray therein. A method for storing and serving crackers includes providing a cracker tray, positioning crackers in the tray, providing a spacer, and positioning the spacer between the rails behind the crackers to hold the crackers in position in the tray.

1 . A cracker serving and storage system comprising:
 a tray defining a trough having at least two sides; and   a slidable spacer configured to couple to the two sides and slide along the trough to capture crackers in the tray.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes two rails that define the trough. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one end plate coupled to at least one of the ends of the tray for holding the rails together to define the trough. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein two end plates are provided and the end plates include slots for joining with the respective rails of the tray. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the slidable spacer has at least one slot for coupling to one of the rails. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the slidable spacer includes two slots, one on either side thereof for coupling to the two rails of the tray, said spacer being slidable along the length of the rails to capture crackers in the trough. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spacer is slidable along the length of the tray, but remains in an upright position in order to hold crackers within the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the trough of the tray is sized to receive crackers of various sizes therein, with the trough having a substantial V-shape and the spacer having a substantial V-shape. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one container dimensioned to accept the size of the tray therein when crackers are installed on the tray. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one container comprises two or more containers, with at least one of the containers having a round cross-section and another of the containers have a square cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tray includes outwardly extending legs that support the rails in spaced relation above a surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the legs extend outwardly at an angle relative to the rails. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the legs extend at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to the rails. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the rails are spaced from the bottom of the tray and define an opening there between. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one end cap is a substantially flat plate that tapers downwardly at an angle that is substantially similar to an angle defined between the rails, with said end cap capping off the end of the rails. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the end cap has an attachment mechanism for attaching the end cap to the rails. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one end cap coupled to the rails, with said at least one end cap being integrally molded with the rails to space the rails from one another to define a V-shaped trough between the rails. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein one end cap is utilized at one end of the rails and the spacer is utilized to maintain spacing between the rails at the other end of the rails. 
     
     
         19 . A method for storing and serving crackers comprising:
 providing a tray having two spaced rails with a trough defined between the rails for accepting crackers there between, said rails being coupled together at one end thereof by an end cap;   positioning crackers in the trough in an upright position;   providing a spacer having a first and a second slot for coupling to the rails; and   positioning the spacer between the rails behind the crackers to hold the crackers in position in the tray, said spacer being slidable along the rails when the slots are positioned on the rails.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing at least one elongated storage container having a size for accepting the tray therein when crackers are installed on the tray, said storage container having a cap for closing the container;   positioning the tray and crackers inside the storage container; and   installing the cap on the container.