Ergonomic serving tray

Abstract

The invention provides an ergonomic serving tray that comprises a flat and substantially circular tray body having a proximal end and distal end relative to a user, a cutout at the proximal end of the tray body for accommodating the user's arm, a three-position grip positioned at the distal end of the tray body for accommodating the user's hand, and a plurality of drink holder apertures arranged about the circumference of the tray and positioned between the cutout and the three-position grip, wherein each drink holder aperture is configured to hold a glass, such that at least a bottom of the glass lies beneath the tray body when the glass is inserted into the drink holder aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ergonomic serving tray, comprising:
 a flat and substantially circular tray body having a circumference and a proximal end and distal end relative to a user;   a cutout at the proximal end of the tray body for accommodating the user's arm;   a three-position grip positioned at the distal end of the tray body for accommodating the user's hand, the three-position grip comprising a first slot proximal to the distal end of the tray body and a second slot proximal to the first slot; and   a plurality of drink holder apertures arranged about the circumference of the tray and positioned between the cutout and the three-position grip,   wherein each drink holder aperture is configured to hold a glass, such that at least a bottom of the glass lies beneath the tray body when the glass is inserted into the drink holder aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second slots are configured such that the user may wrap his or her fingers about:
 (a) a distal bar positioned between the distal end of the tray body and the first slot, or   (b) a central bar positioned between the first slot and the second slot, or   (c) an innermost rim positioned proximal to the second slot.   
     
     
         3 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the three-position grip allows for grip customization according to the forearm length of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drink holder apertures lowers a center of mass of the tray when the tray is in use by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray body is formed of bamboo. 
     
     
         6 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the circular tray body has an upper surface comprising a non-slip treatment. 
     
     
         7 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 6 , wherein the non-slip treatment is a rubber or silicone pad. 
     
     
         8 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout allows the user to bend his/her elbow while carrying the tray upon his/her forearm. 
     
     
         9 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drink holder apertures are of the same size or of varying sizes. 
     
     
         10 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of drink holder apertures have a non-slip rim formed along an interior circumference thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 10 , wherein the non-slip rim is a rubber or silicone rim. 
     
     
         12 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the three-position grip further includes non-slip pads. 
     
     
         13 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 2 , further comprising non-slip pads positioned on the central bar and/or the innermost rim. 
     
     
         14 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout includes a non-slip pad. 
     
     
         15 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 2 , wherein the three-position grip further includes grooves positioned on the distal bar, the central bar, and/or the innermost rim. 
     
     
         16 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , further comprising lighting apparatus along a circumferential edge of the substantially circular tray body. 
     
     
         17 . The ergonomic serving tray of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially circular tray body has a lower surface that includes a plurality of indentations. 
     
     
         18 . An ergonomic serving tray, comprising:
 a flat and substantially circular tray body having a proximal end and a central portion relative to a user;   a cutout at the proximal end of the tray body for accommodating the user's arm;   a three-position grip positioned at the central portion of the tray body for accommodating the user's hand; and   a plurality of drink holder apertures arranged about the circumference of the tray and positioned between the c out and the three-position grip,   wherein each drink holder aperture is configured to hold a glass, such that at least a bottom of the glass lies beneath the tray body when the glass is inserted into the drink holder aperture.