Food Tray With Non-Slip Inserts

Abstract

A tray system may have one or more retaining portions for a container, the one or more retaining portions receiving and securely holding fitted non-slip inserts. The tray may have a non-slip removable insert inserted into each of the one or more retaining portions which may be fitted to the bottom of the retaining portion and may maintain grip on the tray and the container. The tray system may have a retaining portion for a beverage container with a slot to receive a stem portion of the beverage container as well as having a non-slip removable insert with a corresponding slit.

1 . A tray apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially planar surface, having an upper surface and a lower surface comprising:
 a first retaining portion, recessed into the upper surface of the substantially planar surface, for retaining a container, and 
 a second retaining portion, recessed into the substantially planar surface, for retaining a liquid container; 
 the second retaining portion being located proximal to an edge of the substantially planar surface and comprising a slot extending from a center portion of the second retaining portion through the edge of the substantially planar surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert, that is substantially planar and removable, for maintaining grip on both a surface of the first retaining portion and the container,
 wherein a first side of the insert differs from a second side of the insert in surface texture, and 
 the insert is configured to fit entirely within the first retaining portion and does not extend beyond an upper plane of the first retaining portion, and 
 the grip between the retaining portion and the insert is maintained by at least one gripping quality related to the surface texture of the insert. 
   
     
     
         3 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert, that is substantially planar and removable, for maintaining grip on both a surface of the first retaining portion and the container,   wherein a first side of the insert differs from a second side of the insert in surface texture, and   the insert is configured to fit entirely within the first retaining portion and does not extend beyond an upper plane of the first retaining portion, and   the grip between the retaining portion and the insert is maintained by at least one gripping quality related to the surface texture of the insert, and   the insert further comprises a ring shape.   
     
     
         4 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert, that is substantially planar and removable, for maintaining grip on both a surface of the second retaining portion and the liquid container,   wherein a first side of the insert differs from a second side of the insert in surface texture, and   the insert is configured to fit entirely within the second retaining portion and does not extend beyond an upper plane of the second retaining portion, and   the grip between the retaining portion and the insert is maintained by at least one gripping quality related to the surface texture of the insert, and   the insert further comprises a slit through the first and second side of the insert to match the slot configuration of the second retaining portion.   
     
     
         5 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert, that is substantially planar and removable, for maintaining grip on both a surface of the second retaining portion and the liquid container,   wherein a first side of the insert differs from a second side of the insert in surface texture, and   the insert is configured to fit entirely within the second retaining portion and does not extend beyond an upper plane of the second retaining portion, and   the grip between the retaining portion and the insert is maintained by at least one gripping quality related to the surface texture of the insert, and   the insert further comprises a ring shape with an arcuate section of the ring missing to match with the slot configuration of the second retaining portion.   
     
     
         6 . The tray apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the insert comprises a dishwasher safe material. 
     
     
         7 . The tray apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the insert comprises a dishwasher safe material. 
     
     
         8 . The tray apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises a dishwasher safe material. 
     
     
         9 . The tray apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the insert comprises a dishwasher safe material. 
     
     
         10 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tray apparatus comprises a material based on melamine or plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tray apparatus comprises a dishwasher safe material. 
     
     
         12 . The tray apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle portion located on the periphery of the substantially planar surface.   
     
     
         13 . The tray apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the handle portion comprises a single handle comprising an elevated arch portion and a hole portion which extends from the upper surface through the lower surface. 
     
     
         14 . The tray apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the insert comprises a material based on at least one of silicon, melamine, and rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The tray apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the insert comprises a material based on at least one of silicon, melamine, and rubber. 
     
     
         16 . The tray apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises a material based on at least one of silicon, melamine, and rubber. 
     
     
         17 . The tray apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the insert comprises a material based on at least one of silicon, melamine, and rubber. 
     
     
         18 . A tray apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially planar surface, having an upper surface and a lower surface comprising:
 a first retaining portion, recessed into the upper surface of the substantially planar surface, for retaining a container, and 
 a second retaining portion, recessed into the substantially planar surface, for retaining a liquid container; 
 the second retaining portion being located proximal to an edge of the substantially planar surface and comprising a slot extending from a center portion of the second retaining portion through the edge of the substantially planar surface; and 
 a handle portion located on the periphery of the substantially planar surface; 
   a first insert, that is substantially planar and removable, for maintaining grip on both a surface of the first retaining portion and the container,   wherein a first side of the first insert differs from a second side of the first insert in surface texture, and   the first insert is configured to fit entirely within the first retaining portion and does not extend beyond an upper plane of the first retaining portion, and   the grip between the retaining portion and the first insert is maintained by at least one gripping quality related to the surface texture of the first insert; and   a second insert, that is substantially planar and removable, for maintaining grip on both a surface of the second retaining portion and the liquid container,   wherein a first side of the second insert differs from a second side of the second insert in surface texture, and   the second insert is configured to fit entirely within the second retaining portion and does not extend beyond an upper plane of the second retaining portion, and   the grip between the retaining portion and the second insert is maintained by at least one gripping quality related to the surface texture of the second insert, and   the second insert further comprises a slit through the first and second side of the second insert to match the slot configuration of the second retaining portion.   
     
     
         19 . The tray apparatus of  claim 18 , the handle portion comprising a single handle comprising an elevated arch portion and a hole portion which extends from the upper surface through the lower surface. 
     
     
         20 . The tray apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the tray comprises a dishwasher safe material. 
     
     
         21 . The tray apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first insert and the second insert each comprise a material based on at least one of silicon, melamine, and rubber.