Covers for high chair trays and the like

Abstract

A cover ( 14 ) protects a food tray ( 12 ) and the like and provides a sanitary environment on the tray for home, restaurant and travel use. The cover includes a overlay portion ( 15 ) and a peripheral portion ( 16 ). The material of the overlay portion, which is substantially impermeable to liquid and which is positionable atop the tray, has a span greater than that of the tray so that its peripheral portion can extend beyond the edge of the tray. An elastic material ( 16 ) is secured to or held within the peripheral portion so that it can be wrapped underneath the tray and thereby secure the cover to the tray. After use, the cover is removable from the tray along with any liquid and solid material or other mess that may exist on the cover.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cover for protecting food trays and the like including: 
 a overlay comprising material which is substantially impermeable to liquid and which is positionable atop the tray having a span greater than that of the tray and a peripheral portion extendible therebeyond; and    elastic material coupled to said peripheral portion and disposed to wrap said peripheral portion underneath the tray and thereby to secure said overlay thereto and to allow said overlay and said elastic material to be slipped over the tray for installation thereover and removal therefrom and, therefore, to permit any liquid and solid material placed on said overlay to be removed from the tray when said overlay and said elastic material are removed from the tray.    
     
     
         2 . A cover according to  claim 1  in which said overlay is sized in accordance with the shape of the tray.  
     
     
         3 . A cover according to  claim 1  in which said overlay consists of polyethylene plastic material.  
     
     
         4 . A cover according to  claim 1  in which said elastic material is continuously bound to said peripheral portion.  
     
     
         5 . A cover according to  claim 1  in which said peripheral portion terminates in a tubular enclosure and said elastic material is received within said enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . A method for protecting food trays and the like comprising the steps of: 
 overlaying material which is substantially impermeable to liquid atop a tray and which has a span greater than that of the tray and a peripheral portion extendible therebeyond; and    coupling elastic material to the overlay adjacent its peripheral portion; and    disposing the peripheral portion underneath the tray and thereby securing the overlay thereto to allow the overlay and the elastic material to be slipped over the tray for installation of the cover over the tray and for removal of the cover therefrom, therefore to permit any material on the overlay to be removed from the tray when the overlay and the elastic material are removed from the tray.