Food tray

Abstract

A tray comprises a panel provided with a trough at its center, in which in use the trough is disposed between a seated user's legs.

1 . A tray comprises a panel provided with a trough at its center, in which in use the trough is disposed between a seated user's legs.  
   
   
       2 . A tray as claimed in  claim 1  in which the tray is collapsible.  
   
   
       3 . A tray as claimed in  claim 2  in which the tray is provided with first hinge line extending from the center of a first side of the panel to the center of a second side of the panel which is opposite to the first side, a second hinge line and a third hinge line on either side of the first hinge line and spaced apart from, parallel to and the same length as the first hinge line, in which the first hinge line folds in one direction and the second and third hinge lines fold in the opposite direction, such that, in use, the tray is arranged as a panel with a triangular trough at its center which is disposed between a seated user's legs, and such that, in use, the tray is folded up when the first, second and third hinge lines are folded approximately 180 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . A tray as claimed in  claim 3  in which a fourth hinge line extends from a first end of the second hinge line to a first point on the first hinge line which is spaced from the first side, a fifth hinge line extends from a first end of the third hinge line to said first point, a sixth hinge line extends from a second end of the second hinge line to a second point on the first hinge line which is spaced from the second side and a seventh hinge line extends from a second end of the third hinge line to said second point, thereby dividing the first hinge line into a first side section, a center section and a second side section, and in which the first side section and the second side section fold in one direction, and the center section folds in the opposite direction.  
   
   
       5 . A tray as claimed in  claim 4  in which the panel comprises an octagonal panel, in which the second hinge line and the third hinge line are spaced apart the distance of a first side, such that the second hinge line extends from a first end of the first side to the first end of a second side opposite to the first side, and the third hinge line extends from a second end of the first side to a second end of the second side, and in which the first side and the second side are longer in length that the other sides of the octagonal shape.  
   
   
       6 . A tray as claimed in  claim 5  in which an eighth hinge line extends from the center of a third side which is normal to the first side, to the center of a fourth side which is opposite to the third side, and in which, in use, the eighth hinge line facilitates the folding in half of the panel when it is folded up.  
   
   
       7 . A tray as claimed in  claim 6  in which the first hinge line is approximately 23 cm in length, the fourth hinge line, the fifth hinge line, the sixth hinge line and the seventh hinge line are approximately 12 cm in length, and the distance between the second hinge line and the third hinge line is approximately 17.6 cm in length.  
   
   
       8 . A tray as claimed in  claim 1  in which any number of the sides of the panel are provided with collapsible side walls.  
   
   
       9 . A tray as claimed in  claim 1  in which a bib portion extends from the second side, by means of a ninth hinge line, and rests against their midriff or chest, in use, and in which the bib portion is provided with hinge lines which mirror at least the first, sixth and seventh hinge lines, such that when the ninth hinge line is folded 180 degrees in use, the bib portion can be folded with the panel.  
   
   
       10 . A tray as claimed in  claim 9  in which the bib portion is also provided with hinge lines which mirror the second, third, fourth and fifth fold lines.  
   
   
       11 . A tray as claimed in  claim 9  in which an adhesive tab is provided on the bib portion to provide a temporary fixture to the user's clothing in use.  
   
   
       12 . A tray as claimed in  claim 1  in which the tray is constructed from a paper or card material which is folded, in use.