Collapsible eating tray

Abstract

A food handling apparatus adapted to support food items such as pizza, hamburgers, submarine sandwiches, and the like. The apparatus includes a flat surface upon which the food item rests. The apparatus may be collapsible, folding into itself to reduce its footprint as the food item is consumed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food handling apparatus for supporting a food item, comprising:
 a tray configured to support the food item comprising a plurality of segments, wherein a first segment of the plurality of segments is configured to slidably fit into a recess of a second segment of the plurality of segments.   
     
     
         2 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises a plurality of support elements affixed to the tray such that the tray is supported a fixed distance above a resting plane. 
     
     
         3 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of support elements comprise a side support affixed to each of the plurality of segments, wherein the plane of the bottom of each side support is co-planar across the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         4 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second segment of the plurality of segments is a fixed segment and wherein a first support element of the at plurality of support elements is affixed to the first segment of the tray and a second support element is affixed to the second fixed segment of the tray and wherein the first support element is configured to support the tray when the first segment is within the recess of any other of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         5 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tray has a triangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is u-shaped and the food item is supported on an inner surface of the u-shaped tray. 
     
     
         7 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a support wall attached to a top surface of each of the plurality of segments of the tray to form a continuous wall along the length of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tray comprises a top surface that is textured. 
     
     
         9 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plate beneath the tray for catching debris from the food item. 
     
     
         10 . A food handling apparatus for supporting a food item, comprising:
 a u-shaped tray configured to support the food item comprising a plurality of segments, wherein a first segment is configured to slidably fit into a recess of a second segment.   
     
     
         11 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 the second segment of the plurality of segments is a fixed segment; 
 each of the plurality of segments includes a lip; and 
 the first segment of the plurality of segments includes a catch on the lip such that the catch secures to the lip of the fixed segment. 
 
     
     
         12 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the u-shaped tray further comprises a plurality of support elements affixed to the tray such that the tray is supported a fixed distance above a resting plane. 
     
     
         13 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a first support element of the plurality one support element is affixed to the first segment of the u-shaped tray and a second support element is affixed to the second fixed segment of the tray and wherein the first support element is configured to support the tray when the first segment is within the recess any other of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         14 . The food handling apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the inner surface of the u-shaped tray is textured.