Serving tray with removable handle

Abstract

A serving tray ( 10 ) comprising a substantially planar tray ( 12 ) having a top surface ( 12 a ), and a bottom surface ( 12 b ) with a removable elongate handle ( 14 ) extending from the bottom surface of the tray. The tray ( 12 ) includes a handle coupling that is accessible via an opening in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the tray for receiving a complimentary engagement member of the handle ( 14 ) in a slidably releasable friction-fit hold.

1 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A serving tray comprising: a substantially planar tray having a top surface and bottom surface, and being provided with a coupling comprising an internal cavity that is accessible via an opening in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the tray; and an elongate handle being coupled to the coupling so as to extend from the bottom surface of the tray, the internal cavity of the coupling being adapted to receive and retain a complementary engagement member or engagement portion of the handle in a slidably releasable friction-fit hold, 
     
     
         41 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the handle is slidably releasable from the tray in a direction coincident or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         42 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the elongate handle extends longitudinally between a top-end and a bottom-end, and wherein the engagement member or engagement portion extends from the top-end of the handle. 
     
     
         43 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the internal cavity of the coupling has a frustoconical shape and the engagement member or engagement portion of the handle has a complementary frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         44 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the coupling is centrally located with respect to the peripheral edge of the tray; and wherein the coupling is optionally integrally formed with the tray or releasably mounted to the tray. 
     
     
         45 . A serving tray according to  claim 44  wherein the coupling is in the form of a coupling assembly having a first part and a second part that are securable to each other from opposite surfaces of the tray via a central aperture extending through the tray. 
     
     
         46 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the elongate handle is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the bottom surface of the tray; optionally wherein the handle is provided with an upper flange at or toward its top-end that extends outwardly from the peripheral surface of the handle. 
     
     
         47 . A serving tray according to  claim 42  wherein the handle is provided with an upper flange at or toward its top-end and a lower flange at or toward its bottom-end, the flanges extending outwardly from the peripheral surface of the handle and defining between them a handgrip region of the handle for the user's hand. 
     
     
         48 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the handle has a circular cross-sectional shape along its length; optionally wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the handle is uniform along a substantial portion of its length. 
     
     
         49 . A serving tray according to  claim 48  wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the handle is non-uniform along a substantial portion of its length; optionally wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the handle at or toward its top-end is reduced relative to the cross-sectional diameter at or toward its bottom-end, 
     
     
         50 . A serving tray according to  claim 49  wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the handle in a middle portion between the top-end and bottom-end of the handle is reduced relative to the remainder of the handle. 
     
     
         51 . A serving tray according  claim 40  wherein the cross-sectional circumference of the handle is non-uniform along its length; optionally wherein the cross-sectional circumference of the handle at or toward its top-end is reduced relative to the cross-sectional circumference at or toward its bottom-end. 
     
     
         52 . A serving tray according to  claim 51  wherein the cross-sectional circumference of the handle in a middle portion between the top-end and bottom-end of the handle is reduced relative to the remainder of the handle. 
     
     
         53 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  wherein the tray is provided with a rim that protrudes upwardly from the peripheral edge of the tray relative to the top surface of the tray. 
     
     
         54 . A serving tray according to  claim 40  further comprising a display stand that is removably mounted to the top surface of the tray; optionally wherein the display stand comprises a frame onto which display material is securable. 
     
     
         55 . A serving tray according to  claim 54  wherein the display stand further comprises a mounting component attached to the frame that is arranged to mount onto a complimentary protrusion provided centrally on the top surface of the tray. 
     
     
         56 . A kit of parts for assembling into a serving tray comprising: a substantially planar tray having a top surface and a bottom surface; a coupling integral with the tray or securable to the tray, the coupling comprising an internal cavity that is accessible via an opening in the bottom surface of the tray; and an elongate handle with an engagement member or engagement portion that is releaseably securable to the coupling of the tray such that the handle extends from the bottom surface of the tray when installed, the internal cavity of the coupling being adapted to receive and retain the engagement member or engagement portion of the handle in a slidably releasable friction-fit hold. 
     
     
         57 . A substantially planar serving tray having a top surface and a bottom surface and which has a coupling with an internal cavity that is accessible via an opening in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the tray and which is shaped to receive and retain a complementary shaped engagement member or engagement portion of an elongate handle such that the handle extends from the bottom surface of the tray when installed. 
     
     
         58 . An elongate handle for coupling to a serving tray, the handle extending between a top-end and a bottom-end, and having an engagement member or engagement portion extending from the top-end of the handle that is shaped to be received and retained in a complementary shaped internal cavity of a coupling of the serving tray; optionally wherein the engagement member or engagement portion has a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         59 . A handle coupling assembly for releasbly coupling a handle to a serving tray serving tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, the coupling assembly comprising a first part and a second part that are securable to each other from opposite surfaces of the tray via a central aperture extending trough the tray and together providing an internal cavity that is accessible via an opening in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the tray and which is shaped to receive an retain a complementary shaped engagement member of an elongate handle such that the handle extends from the bottom surface of the tray when installed.