Supplemental Container Tray

Abstract

A molded rubber or polymer extrusion in the form of a supplement tray designed to fit onto the standard restaurant tray of varying sizes. The supplemental tray is designed to sit upon the surface of the tray, may or may not be secured along its edges, such as by overlapping the tray edge, to provide support for containment of empty beer bottles, cans, or any other beverage containers, through the use of upwardly extending raised compartments, generally semicircular of design, of the specific size and shape of the container to provide for their securement during handling and collection. The molded supplemental tray may cover to some extent the serving tray itself, whether it is approximately half, or less, of the serving tray, to allow for the collection of other spent containers, while a table is being cleared after consumption. The supplemental tray may also be designed as a resilient annulus, having at least one aperture provided therein, for resting upon the standard serving tray, and which may hold a container during usage.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A supplemental container tray, having a base portion, a series of upstanding retention means, said retention means having sufficient inherent resiliency to allow for the insertion of a container into the retention means, or its removal, during usage of the supplemental tray, and said supplemental tray base portion having sufficient surface area to allow for its application upon a standard serving tray, during its usage. 
     
     
         2 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 1 , wherein each retention means includes an arcuate upstanding protrusion, of inherent flexibility, and having a spaced opening through one of its side edges, to allow for the insertion or removal of a container from therein, during usage. 
     
     
         3 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 1 , wherein the retention means includes a series of upstanding fingers, at least three in number, to allow for the insertion and retention of a container therein, during its processing. 
     
     
         4 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 12  and including an inclined edge provided around the perimeter of the base, to allow for contiguous positioning of the supplemental tray within a standard tray, to add stability to the usage of the supplemental tray, during its application. 
     
     
         5 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 4  wherein said inclined edge includes a downward lip, the downward lip of said supplemental tray capable of interconnecting with the edge of the standard tray, to add to its retention when the supplemental tray is positioned within a standard tray, for use in the processing of beverage containers. 
     
     
         6 . A supplemental container tray, comprising an annulus, having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of any serving tray upon which it rests, at least one aperture provided within the annulus, and said aperture having a diameter approximating the diameter of any bottle that may be inserted therein during serving, to embrace the bottle and hold it in position while the annulus and its serving tray is transported to and from a table during usage. 
     
     
         7 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 6  wherein there are a plurality of apertures provided within the formed annulus. 
     
     
         8 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 7 , wherein select of said apertures have at least one finger extending inwardly thereof, to embrace any bottle located within its aperture during transit. 
     
     
         9 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 6  wherein a hand hole is formed within the annulus to facilitate its gripping by the user when conveying a serving tray. 
     
     
         10 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 6  and including friction means provided upon the bottom of the annulus to affect its adherence to the serving tray during usage. 
     
     
         11 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 6 , wherein said supplemental container tray has resiliency. 
     
     
         12 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 6 , wherein said supplemental container tray is formed of a polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 12 , wherein the polymer is an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The supplemental container tray of  claim 6 , wherein said annulus is of semicircular design.