Serving tray systems

Abstract

A serving tray that enhances tray-stabilizing features useful to a server's abilities to load, carry, and unload a serving tray depending upon the specifics of the serving situation. The serving tray is stackable, assists drying, bacterial-growth minimizing, and jack-stand nesting. The serving tray provides for easy gripping and added stability by either right or left-handed users.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for using a serving tray apparatus, comprising:
 supporting a serving tray apparatus in a shoulder position by resting an arcuate portion of the serving tray apparatus on a user's shoulder, the serving tray apparatus having a superior surface and an inferior surface wherein the arcuate portion extends from the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus at a location in proximity to a peripheral edge of the apparatus;   grasping at least one handle of the serving tray apparatus with at least one hand, wherein the at least one handle extends from the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus such that a palm of the at least one hand is in a position transverse to the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus while the user is holding the at least one handle; and   repositioning the serving tray apparatus from the shoulder position to a resting position where a plane of the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus in the resting position is inferior to the plane of the serving tray apparatus in the shoulder position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lower position further comprises resting an arcuate portion of the serving tray apparatus on a user's forearm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lower position further comprises resting the serving tray apparatus on a jack-stand. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein repositioning the serving tray apparatus further comprises grasping at least a second handle of the serving tray apparatus with the at least one hand while in the resting position, wherein the second handle extends from the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus and is positioned between the at least one handle and the peripheral edge. 
     
     
         25 . A method for repositioning a serving tray apparatus, comprising:
 stabilizing the serving tray apparatus with a first hand;   moving a second hand from a first handle to a second handle, wherein the first handle and the second handle extend from an inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus; and   repositioning the serving tray apparatus from a first altitude to a second altitude lower than the first altitude while maintaining a grip on the first handle and the second handle.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein stabilizing the serving tray apparatus further comprises supporting the apparatus in a shoulder position by resting an arcuate portion of the serving tray apparatus on a user's shoulder, wherein the arcuate portion extends from the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus at a location in proximity to a peripheral edge of the apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising grasping the first handle with the first hand such that a palm of the first hand is in a position transverse to the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus while the user is holding the first handle. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the lower position further comprises resting an arcuate portion of the serving tray apparatus on a user's forearm. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the lower position further comprises resting the serving tray apparatus on a jack-stand. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein repositioning the serving tray apparatus further comprises grasping at least a second handle of the serving tray apparatus with the at least one hand while in the resting position, wherein the second handle extends from the inferior surface of the serving tray apparatus and is positioned between the at least one handle and the peripheral edge.