An Improved Tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved carrying tray comprising: a substantially planar surface having a top surface and bottom surface; and a handle placed within a cavity at the underside of the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is adapted to receive and retain the handle so that said handle does not extend from the bottom surface of the tray, and wherein the handle is easily pulled into an open-position to embrace the user's palm and provide improved control for carrying said tray, and easily returns into the cavity and back to a close-position when the user removes his palm.

1 . An improved carrying tray ( 10 ) comprising:
 a) a substantially planar surface ( 12 ) having a top surface and bottom surface;   b) a cavity ( 26 ) at the underside of the bottom surface; and   c) a handle ( 16 ) placed within said cavity ( 26 ),   wherein:   the cavity ( 26 ) is adapted to receive and retain the handle ( 16 ) so that said handle ( 16 ) does not extend from the bottom surface of the tray ( 10 ),   the handle ( 16 ) is adapted to be easily pulled away from the bottom surface into an open-position, to embrace the user's palm and provide improved control for carrying said tray ( 10 ), and   when the palm is removed, the handle ( 16 ) easily returns into the cavity ( 26 ) and back to a close-position.   
     
     
         2 . A tray ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pointer ( 17 ) indicating either the location and orientation of the handle ( 16 ) or indication where the user should insert his hand from in order to arrive to the handle ( 16 ) in the right direction. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A tray ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface has ridges ( 29 ) so that the handle ( 16 ) does not extend from said ridges ( 29 ). 
     
     
         6 . A tray ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said ridges ( 29 ) may form the cavity ( 26 ) holding the handle ( 16 ) and in which the handle moves from close- to open-position and vice versa. 
     
     
         7 . The handle ( 16 ) of the tray of  claim 1 , which is attached thereto in a permanent manner or is removably attached to the tray ( 10 ). 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 5 , which is removably attached to the tray ( 10 ) by a ledge and a corresponding depression, and is maintained in dace by friction, thereby allowing easy changing of the location and/or orientation of the handle ( 16 ), while preventing unintentional change thereof. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 5 , which is removably attached to a track ( 26 ) located along the tray ( 10 ), thereby providing an additional ability of changing the position of the handle ( 16 ). 
     
     
         12 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 11  which is fixed to the track ( 26 ) located along the tray ( 10 ) by friction, allowing easy changing of the handle ( 16 ) position, while preventing unintentional change thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 1  which is made of one or more rigid materials. 
     
     
         14 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid material comprises: plastic materials, fiberglass, recycled wood or plastic, metals or wood, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 1  which is made of non-rigid materials. 
     
     
         16 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 15 , wherein the non-rigid material comprises: soft plastic materials, silicone, leather, fabric, rubber, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The handle ( 16 ) of  claim 1  which is made of any combination of rigid and non-rigid materials. 
     
     
         18 . A handle-system unit ( 14 ) comprising essentially of:
 a) a coupling base ( 18 ) comprising an internal cavity ( 26 ) at its underside; and   b) a handle ( 16 ) placed within said cavity ( 26 );   wherein the unit ( 14 ) may be attached to the underside of any tray in any size and shape, and wherein   the cavity ( 26 ) is adapted to receive and retain the handle ( 16 ) so that said handle ( 16 ) does not extend from the bottom surface of the base ( 18 ),   the handle ( 16 ) is adapted to be easily pulled away from the bottom surface into an open-position, to embrace the user's palm, and provide improved control for carrying said attached tray, and   when the palm is removed, the handle ( 16 ) easily returns into the cavity ( 26 ) and back to a close-position.   
     
     
         19 . The unit ( 14 ) of  claim 18 , which is attached to a tray by any one of the following means: snap-fit, gluing, screwing and welding. 
     
     
         20 . The base ( 18 ) of  claim 18 , which is rotatable, thereby allowing changing the orientation and location of the handle ( 16 ). 
     
     
         21 . The improved carrying tray ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the handle ( 16 ) is an integral part of the bottom surface ( 12 ) and is adapted to be easily pulled apart from the bottom surface into an open-position, to embrace the user's palm and provide improved control for carrying said tray ( 10 ).   
     
     
         22 . The tray ( 10 ) of  claim 21 , wherein said tray is a pizza tray, and wherein said handle ( 16 ) is part of the bottom surface ( 12 ) and is easily extracted therefrom to embrace the user's palm. 
     
     
         23 . The tray ( 10 ) of  claim 22 , wherein said handle ( 16 ) is strengthen, e.g., by nylon threads or plastic. 
     
     
         24 . The tray ( 10 ) of  claim 22 , wherein said bottom surface ( 12 ) comprises an additional isolating layer to protect the user's palm from heat.