Tray insert with retained food service items

Abstract

A tray and tray insert with holes designed to prevent plates, bowls, or drinking cups from sliding or falling off the tray. The holes are cut or formed into the tray, allowing for the bowls and plates to sit in and locked in place by the dishwasher safe tray insert, preventing sliding and knock overs of the plates or bowls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food service tray, comprising:
 a tray base having a plurality of spaced apart holes defined in a surface of the tray base, the plurality of spaced apart holes dimensioned to receive at least a lower portion of a food serving item therein.   
     
     
         2 . The food service tray of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tray cover having a plurality of spaced apart openings defined in a surface of the tray cover, the openings disposed to be coaxially aligned with the spaced apart holes of the tray base.   
     
     
         3 . The food service tray of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the tray cover openings is smaller than a diameter of a corresponding hole of the tray base. 
     
     
         4 . The food service tray of  claim 3 , the tray cover openings further comprising:
 a raised annular rim defined around an edge of the tray cover opening.   
     
     
         5 . The food service tray of  claim 4 , wherein the raised annular rim defines a ledge on a lower surface of the rim that is dimensioned to one or more of a width or a thickness of a lip surrounding the food serving item. 
     
     
         6 . The food service tray of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a slot defined in a peripheral edge of the tray base; and   a cover grip tab defined in a peripheral edge of the tray cover, wherein the slot is adapted to receive a locking tab portion of the cover grip tab to secure the tray cover to the tray base.   
     
     
         7 . The food service tray of  claim 6 , wherein the lip of the food serving item is retained in the hole of the tray base by the ledge of the tray cover, when the tray cover is secured to the tray base. 
     
     
         8 . The food service tray of  claim 2 , wherein the food serving item comprises a plate. 
     
     
         9 . The food service tray of  claim 2 , wherein the food serving item comprises a bowl. 
     
     
         10 . The food service tray of  claim 2 , wherein the food serving item comprises a cup. 
     
     
         11 . A food service tray, comprising:
 a tray base having a plurality of spaced apart holes defined in an surface of the tray base; and   a tray cover having a plurality of spaced apart openings defined in a surface of the tray cover and disposed to correspond with the plurality of spaced apart holes.   
     
     
         12 . The food service tray of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a food service item, wherein at least a lower portion of the food service item is received within one of the plurality of spaced apart holes.   
     
     
         13 . The food service tray of  claim 11 , wherein a lip defined around a peripheral edge of the food service item is supported by an upper surface of the tray base. 
     
     
         14 . The food service tray of  claim 13 , wherein the lip of the food service item is received within a ledge defined in a lower surface of the tray cover around a periphery of at least one the plurality of spaced apart openings. 
     
     
         15 . The food service tray of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a slot defined in a peripheral surface of the tray base; and   a locking tab extending from the tray cover, the locking tab adapted to be received in the slot to secure the tray cover to the tray base.   
     
     
         16 . The food service tray of  claim 12 , wherein the food service item is restrained within the tray base by a snap-fit cooperative engagement of the tray cover with the tray base.