Foodservice Container Caddy

Abstract

A Foodservice Container Caddy (“Caddy”) allows foodservice staff to handle foodservice containers without potentially hot, cold, wet, greasy, or otherwise contaminated surfaces of the foodservice containers coming into contact with dining-room surfaces and potentially damaging them or items of consumers that might interact with such surfaces. A sleeve, which can be made from multiple layers of various types of material, removably fits over a lower portion of a foodservice container, and handles enable foodservice staff to carry the Caddy and place it on dining-room or kitchen surfaces. Various embodiments of the Caddy can receive various types of foodservice containers and can be used to protect foodservice staff and dining-room surfaces from various types of contamination or hazards.

1 . A device comprising:
 a sleeve formed to receive a bus tub, the sleeve including:
 an open top to receive a lower portion of the bus tub, 
 a bottom to prevent the lower portion of the bus tub from coming into contact with a dining-room surface when the sleeve has received the lower portion of the bus tub, and 
 a side portion formed to cover at least part of the lower portion of the bus tub and to extend less than a full height of the bus tub; and 
   at least two handles, each handle coupled to at least one of the bottom and the side portion such that, when the bus tub is inserted into the sleeve, the at least two handles lie on generally opposing sides of the bus tub to facilitate carrying of the bus tub.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bottom and the side portion are coupled at an attachment point; and   an attachment cover protects the attachment point from deterioration.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two handles are coupled to each other to form a handle assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the handle assembly is constructed from a single length of material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the sleeve comprises a plurality of layers; and   at least part of the handle assembly extends between an inner layer and an outer layer of at least one of the at least one side portion and the bottom portion.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the sleeve comprises a plurality of layers; and   at least one of the plurality of layers is resistant to absorption of at least one type of liquid.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is sized to facilitate removal of the lower portion of the bus tub prior to placing the bus tub on a kitchen surface. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 an insulated sleeve formed to receive a lower portion of a steam table pan, the insulated sleeve including:
 an open top to receive the steam table pan, 
 a bottom to prevent a lower portion of the steam table pan from coming into contact with a dining-room surface when the insulated sleeve has received the lower portion of the steam table pan, and 
 a side portion formed to cover the lower portion of the steam table pan; and 
   at least two handles, each handle coupled to at least one of the bottom and the side portion such that, when the steam table pan is inserted into the insulated sleeve, the at least two handles lie on generally opposing sides of the steam table pan to facilitate carrying of the steam table pan.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the bottom and the side portion are coupled at an attachment point; and   an attachment cover protects the attachment point from deterioration.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two handles are coupled to each other to form a handle assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the handle assembly is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the insulated sleeve comprises a plurality of layers; and   at least part of the handle assembly extends between an inner layer and an outer layer of at least one of the at least one side portion and the bottom portion.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the insulated sleeve comprises a plurality of layers; and   at least one of the plurality of layers is resistant to absorption of at least one type of liquid.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , at least one of the plurality of layers constructed from an insulating material. 
     
     
         16 . A device comprising:
 a receptacle formed to receive a foodservice container, the receptacle including:
 an open top to receive the foodservice container, 
 a bottom to prevent the foodservice container from being coming into contact with a dining-room surface when placed within the receptacle, and 
 a side portion extending less than a full height of the foodservice container; 
   opposing handles coupled the receptacle, such that when the receptacle receives the foodservice container, the opposing handles lie on generally opposing sides of the foodservice container; and   wherein the receptacle is adapted to facilitate removal of the foodservice container from the receptacle prior to placing the foodservice container on a kitchen surface.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the opposing handles are constructed from a strap extending along the bottom of the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the receptacle comprises a plurality of layers; and   at least part of the opposing handles extend between an inner layer and an outer layer.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , at least one of the plurality of layers constructed from a material providing temperature insulation. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , at least one of the plurality of layers is resistant to absorption of at least one type of liquid.