Dining service system

Abstract

A dining service system for aiding a waiter or waitress in carrying meal service implements. The dining service assembly of the dining service system includes a serving tray assembly and a belt-clip. Some versions may additionally include a lanyard-necklace. The serving tray assembly includes a top-tray, a base, at least two vertical members and a handle. The handle is structured and arranged to be held by a user to support at least a partial load of the serving tray assembly and of the meal service implements while using the dining service assembly to serve patrons. The belt-clip is structured and arranged to accept and support the serving tray assembly such that the belt-clip carries part of the weight of the serving tray assembly and the items carried by the tray assembly.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . A dining service system comprising:
 a dining service assembly comprising;
 a serving tray assembly comprising; and
 a top-tray comprising;
 a tray-top-surface; 
 a tray-bottom-surface; and 
 a tray-perimeter; 
 
 a base comprising;
 a base-top-surface; 
 a base-bottom-surface; and 
 a base-perimeter; 
 
 at least two vertical members; and 
 a handle; and 
 
 a belt-clip; 
   wherein said dining service system comprises said dining service assembly;   wherein said dining service assembly comprises said serving tray assembly and said belt-clip in functional combination;   wherein said serving tray assembly is defined by said top-tray, said base, said at least two vertical members, and said handle;   wherein said top-tray is structured and arranged to be held by a user to support meal service implements;   wherein said belt-clip is affixed to a waist area of said user during use;   wherein said belt-clip is structured and arranged to accept and support said tray perimeter of said top-tray such that said belt-clip carries a portion of a load of said meal service implements;   wherein said at least two vertical members are coupled to said tray-bottom-surface of said top-tray and said base-top-surface of said base;   wherein said top-tray and said base are configured in a parallel relationship respective to each other;   wherein said handle is coupled between two of said at least two vertical members; and   wherein said handle is structured and arranged to be held by said user to support at least a partial load of said serving tray assembly and of said meal service implements while using said dining service assembly to serve.   
     
     
         2 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said tray-perimeter of said top-tray further comprises a lip to prevent said meal service implements from sliding from said serving tray assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said tray-perimeter of said top-tray is round in shape to maximize available surface area of said top tray for carrying said meal service implements. 
     
     
         4 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said tray-top-surface of said top-tray further comprises a non-slip surface to prevent said meal service implements from sliding from said serving tray assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said base-bottom surface of said base further comprises a non-slip surface to prevent said serving tray assembly from sliding when said serving tray assembly is placed upon a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The dining service system of  claim 3  wherein said base-perimeter of said base is round in shape to match a shape of said tray-perimeter of said top-tray. 
     
     
         7 . The dining service system of  claim 4  wherein said tray-perimeter and said base-perimeter both comprise the same diameter dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The dining service system of  claim 3  wherein said tray-perimeter comprises a larger diameter than said base-perimeter such that said serving tray assembly is suitably stabilized for use. 
     
     
         9 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said serving tray assembly further comprises a fastener and a lanyard-necklace, said fastener thus is able to couple to said lanyard-necklace such that said lanyard-necklace is placed around a neck of said user to support at least a portion of load of said meal service implements. 
     
     
         10 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said belt-clip further comprises a non-slip surface to prevent said tray-perimeter of said top-tray from sliding when said tray-perimeter is supported by said belt-clip. 
     
     
         11 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said handle is flat in shape to provide an ergonomic grip for said user. 
     
     
         12 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said handle further comprises a non-slip grip to aid said user in grasping said handle. 
     
     
         13 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said tray-top surface further comprises an absorbent surface to collect condensation and spilled liquids from said meal service implements. 
     
     
         14 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said tray-top surface further comprises a heat resistant surface to prevent damage to said serving tray assembly from said meal service implements when said meal service implements are temperature elevated. 
     
     
         15 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said base-perimeter of said base and said tray-perimeter of said top-tray are square in shape to aid in stacking and storage of a plurality of serving tray assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . The dining service system of  claim 1  wherein said tray-top-surface further comprises a plurality of indentations each configured to accept the base of a drinking cup. 
     
     
         17 . A dining service system comprising:
 a dining service assembly comprising;
 a serving tray assembly comprising; and
 a top-tray comprising;
 a tray-top-surface; 
 a tray-bottom-surface; and 
 a tray-perimeter; 
 
 a base comprising;
 a base-top-surface; 
 a base-bottom-surface; and 
 a base-perimeter; 
 
 at least two vertical members; and 
 a handle; and 
 
 a belt-clip; 
   wherein said dining service system comprises said dining service assembly;   wherein said dining service assembly comprises said serving tray assembly and said belt-clip in functional combination;   wherein said serving tray assembly is defined by said top-tray, said base, said at least two vertical members, and said handle;   wherein said top-tray is structured and arranged to be held by a user to support meal service implements;   wherein said belt-clip is affixed to a waist area of said user during use;   wherein said belt-clip is structured and arranged to accept and support said tray perimeter of said top-tray such that said belt-clip carries a portion of a load of said meal service implements;   wherein said at least two vertical members are coupled to said tray-bottom-surface of said top-tray and said base-top-surface of said base;   wherein said top-tray and said base are configured in a parallel relationship respective to each other;   wherein said handle is coupled between two of said at least two vertical members;   wherein said handle is structured and arranged to be held by said user to support at least a partial load of said serving tray assembly and of said meal service implements while using said dining service assembly to serve;   wherein said tray-perimeter of said top-tray further comprises a lip to prevent said meal service implements from sliding from said serving tray assembly;   wherein said tray-perimeter of said top-tray is round in shape to maximize available surface area of said top tray for carrying said meal service implements;   wherein said tray-top-surface of said top-tray further comprises a non-slip surface to prevent said meal service implements from sliding from said serving tray assembly;   wherein said base-bottom surface of said base further comprises a non-slip surface to prevent said serving tray assembly from sliding when said serving tray assembly is placed upon a surface;   wherein said base-perimeter of said base is round in shape to match a shape of said tray-perimeter of said top-tray;   wherein said tray-perimeter comprises a larger diameter than said base-perimeter such that said serving tray assembly is suitably stabilized for use;   wherein said serving tray assembly further comprises a fastener and a lanyard-necklace, said fastener thus is able to couple to said lanyard-necklace such that said lanyard-necklace is placed around a neck of said user to support at least a portion of load of said meal service implements;   wherein said belt-clip further comprises a non-slip surface to prevent said tray-perimeter of said top-tray from sliding when said tray-perimeter is supported by said belt-clip;   wherein said handle is flat in shape to provide an ergonomic grip for said user;   wherein said handle further comprises a non-slip grip to aid said user in grasping said handle;   wherein said tray-top surface further comprises an absorbent surface to collect condensation and spilled liquids from said meal service implements;   wherein said tray-top surface further comprises a heat resistant surface to prevent damage to said serving tray assembly from said meal service implements when said meal service implements are temperature elevated.   
     
     
         18 . The dining service system of  claim 17  further comprising a kit including:
 said serving tray assembly; 
 said belt-clip; 
 said lanyard-necklace; and 
 a set of user instructions. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a dining service system comprising the steps of:
 providing a dining service assembly comprising;
 a serving tray assembly; 
 a belt-clip; and 
 a lanyard-necklace; 
   coupling said belt-clip to a waist area of a user;   placing said lanyard-necklace around a neck of said user;   coupling said lanyard-necklace to said serving tray assembly; and   affixing said serving tray assembly to said belt-clip.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 removing said serving tray assembly from said belt-clip; 
 removing said lanyard-necklace from said serving tray assembly; and 
 removing said belt-clip from said waist area of said user.