Tray for holding a plurality of food products

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a tray for holding a plurality of edible food products therein. The tray may include a top surface having a plurality of compartments extending downwardly therefrom in which a bottom wall of each compartment is generally parallel to the tray top surface. The tray may include at least one receptacle adjacent one of the at least one compartments in which a bottom wall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface. The tray may further include a first compartment of the plurality of compartments configured to house a solid food component therein, a second compartment of the plurality of compartments configured to house a non-solid food component therein, and at least the first and second compartments are covered by at least one membrane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tray for holding a plurality of edible food products therein, the tray comprising:
 a top surface having a plurality of compartments extending downwardly therefrom, each compartment comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the tray top surface, wherein the bottom wall of each compartment is generally parallel to the tray top surface; and   at least one receptacle adjacent one of the at least one compartments, the at least one receptacle comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the tray top surface, wherein the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface;   wherein a first compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to house a solid food component therein, wherein a second compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to house a non-solid food component therein, and wherein at least the first and second compartments are covered by at least one membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein a first receptacle is adjacent to the first compartment, and wherein a second receptable is adjacent the second compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom wall of the first receptacle is angled in the direction of the first compartment and wherein a bottom wall of the second receptacle is angled in the direction of the second compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sidewall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle includes three sidewalls extending between the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle and the tray top surface. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle is between 10 degrees and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the angle of the at least one sidewall of the at least one receptacle is between 10 degrees and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface sidewall extends downward from the tray top surface circumscribing the plurality of compartments and the at least one receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein a flange extends outwardly from the top surface sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein a flange extends outwardly from the tray top surface. 
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second compartment are separated by a first dividing member of the top surface of the tray. 
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the second receptacle is separated from the second compartment by a second dividing member of the top surface of the tray, wherein the first receptacle is not separated from the first compartment by a dividing member, and wherein the first receptacle is connected to an upper portion of a sidewall of the first compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 12 , wherein the sidewall connecting the first receptacle to the first compartment is configured to curve outwardly. 
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 13 , wherein the curved sidewall of the first compartment allows a user to access the solid food component housed within the first compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the second receptacle is configured to be used as a scraping-off area, and wherein when the solid food component is dipped into the non-solid food component, a user scrapes off the excess non-solid food component on the second receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein the angled bottom wall of the first receptacle allows a user to peel off the at least one membrane from the tray top surface. 
     
     
         17 . A tray for holding a plurality of edible food products therein, the tray comprising:
 a top surface having a plurality of compartments extending downwardly therefrom, each compartment comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the tray top surface, wherein the bottom wall of each compartment is generally parallel to the tray top surface; and   at least one receptacle adjacent one of the at least one compartments, the at least one receptacle comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the tray top surface, wherein the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface;   wherein a first compartment of the plurality of compartments is adjacent a first receptacle, and wherein a second compartment of the plurality of compartments is adjacent a second receptacle.   
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein the first compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to house a solid food component therein, wherein the second compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to house a non-solid food component therein, and wherein at least the first and second compartments are covered by at least one membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein a bottom wall of the first receptacle is angled in the direction of the first compartment and wherein a bottom wall of the second receptacle is angled in the direction of the second compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein at least one sidewall of the first and the second receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface. 
     
     
         21 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one receptacle includes three sidewalls extending between the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle and the tray top surface. 
     
     
         22 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein a top surface sidewall extends downward from the tray top surface circumscribing the plurality of compartments and the at least one receptacle. 
     
     
         23 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein the first and the second compartment are separated by a first dividing member of the top surface of the tray. 
     
     
         24 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein the second receptacle is separated from the second compartment by a second dividing member of the top surface of the tray, wherein the first receptacle is not separated from the first compartment by a dividing member, and wherein the first receptacle is connected to an upper portion of a sidewall of the first compartment. 
     
     
         25 . The tray of  claim 24 , wherein the sidewall connecting the first receptacle to the first compartment is configured to curve outwardly. 
     
     
         26 . The tray of  claim 25 , wherein the curved sidewall of the first compartment allows a user to access the solid food component housed within the first compartment. 
     
     
         27 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein the second receptacle is configured to be used as a scraping-off area, and wherein when the solid food component is dipped into the non-solid food component, a user scrapes off the excess non-solid food component on the second receptacle. 
     
     
         28 . A tray for holding a plurality of edible food products therein, the tray comprising:
 a top surface having a plurality of compartments extending downwardly therefrom, each compartment comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the tray top surface, wherein the bottom wall of each compartment is generally parallel to the tray top surface; and   at least one receptacle adjacent one of the at least one compartments, the at least one receptacle comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the tray top surface, wherein the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface;   wherein a first compartment of the plurality of compartments is adjacent a first receptacle, wherein a second compartment of the plurality of compartments is adjacent a second receptacle, and wherein the first receptacle is connected to an upper portion of one of the at least one sidewall of the first compartment.   
     
     
         29 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein the first compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to house a solid food component therein, wherein the second compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to house a non-solid food component therein, and wherein at least the first and second compartments are covered by at least one membrane. 
     
     
         30 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein a bottom wall of the first receptacle is angled in the direction of the first compartment and wherein a bottom wall of the second receptacle is angled in the direction of the second compartment. 
     
     
         31 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein at least one sidewall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface. 
     
     
         32 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one receptacle includes three sidewalls extending between the bottom wall of the at least one receptacle and the tray top surface. 
     
     
         33 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein the first and the second compartment are separated by a first dividing member of the top surface of the tray, and wherein the second receptacle is separated from the second compartment by a second dividing member of the top surface of the tray. 
     
     
         34 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein the sidewall connecting the first receptacle to the first compartment is configured to curve outwardly, and wherein the curved sidewall of the first compartment allows a user to access the solid food component housed within the first compartment. 
     
     
         35 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein the second receptacle is configured to be used as a scraping-off area, and wherein when the solid food component is dipped into the non-solid food component, a user scrapes off the excess non-solid food component on the second receptacle. 
     
     
         36 . The tray of  claim 28 , wherein the angled bottom wall of the first receptacle allows a user to peel off the at least one membrane from the tray top surface.