Packaging Container and Serving Tray for Shrimp and Other Foods

Abstract

The present invention concerns a food packaging and serving tray that generally includes an upper tray configured to support and contain food items, and a base tray that receives the upper tray and supports it in various positions. The base tray has a plurality of attachment points located at at least two different heights relative to the bottom of the base tray. The attachment points serve to support and maintain the upper tray at at least two different heights above the base tray. A first, lower height corresponds to the serving tray being in a packaging state for when the food items are being transported and displayed for purchase. The second height corresponds to the serving tray being in a serving state, when the food items are being served for consumption by the consumer. During the serving state, the additional height between the base tray and upper tray allows ice to be arranged in the base tray in order to keep the food in the upper tray chilled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A serving tray for packaging and serving food, the serving tray comprising:
 a base tray, the base tray comprising:
 an outer wall disposed along the periphery of the base tray; 
 an inner wall disposed concentric to the outer wall, the inner wall defining a first well; 
 a bottom surface extending between the outer wall and the inner wall; and 
 a plurality of first attachment points disposed along the first well, wherein at least one of the first attachment points is located at a first depth relative to a top of the inner wall of the base tray and at least one of the first attachment points is located at a second depth relative to the top of the inner wall of the base tray, the first depth being different from the second depth; and 
   an upper tray, the upper tray comprising:
 an outer wall disposed along the periphery of the upper tray; 
 an inner wall disposed concentric to the outer wall, the inner wall defining a second well; 
 a support surface extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, the support surface configured to support food items; and 
 a plurality of second attachment points disposed along the second well, the plurality of second attachments points located at the same depth relative to a top of the inner wall of the upper tray; 
   wherein the serving tray is configured such that the upper tray is at a first height relative to the base tray when the second attachment points are in contact with the first attachment points at a first depth and the upper tray is at a second height relative to the base tray when the second attachment points are in contact with the first attachment points at a second depth.   
     
     
         2 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the base tray and the upper tray are generally circular in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The serving tray of  claim 2 , wherein the inner wall of the base tray and the inner wall of the upper tray are both generally circular in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface of the upper tray is sloped from the inner wall of the upper tray downward to the outer wall of the upper tray. 
     
     
         5 . The serving tray of  claim 4 , wherein the support surface includes a channel located at the junction of the support surface and the outer wall of the upper tray. 
     
     
         6 . The serving tray of  claim 5 , wherein the channel includes a plurality of drain holes. 
     
     
         7 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the base tray is configured to receive the upper tray. 
     
     
         8 . The serving tray of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first rim located on the top of the outer wall of the upper tray; and   a second rim located on the top of the outer wall of the base tray, the second rim configured to receive the first rim when the upper tray is received into the base tray.   
     
     
         9 . The serving tray of  claim 8 , further comprising a lid configured to cover the upper tray and to receive the first rim and the second rim. 
     
     
         10 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first well is configured to receive the second well. 
     
     
         11 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface of the upper tray contains a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         12 . The serving tray of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ridges are oriented radially outwards from the inner wall of the upper tray. 
     
     
         13 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface of the upper tray further includes an elevated portion adjacent to the inner wall of the upper tray. 
     
     
         14 . The serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface of the upper tray is closer to the bottom surface of the base tray when the upper tray is at the first height than when the upper tray is at the second height. 
     
     
         15 . The serving tray of  claim 1  wherein the serving tray is configured to store shrimp.