Food and beverage tray

Abstract

A food and beverage tray having a base and a folding lid secured to the base. The base includes one or more compartments sized and configured to secure beverages, food, or food packaging. The lid has a first position in which it covers at least one of the compartments in the base and a second position in which the lid is substantially vertical and the compartment or compartments are uncovered. The lid also has a front member and a rear member connected at their upper and lower regions to define a pouch. The front and rear members may be used for advertising displays for the tray. The base also includes means for releasably securing the lid to the tray.

1 . A container for carrying food and beverages, the container comprising: a base tray having a first compartment for holding a consumable product and having one or more second compartments operably configured to hold a consumable product, 
 a lid portion directly hinged to the rear of said base tray for movement toward and away from an upper surface of said base tray to open and close the same, said lid portion covering at least said first compartment, and    means for releasably locking said lid portion to said upper surface of said base tray.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said lid portion includes a male element; and    said locking means comprises a female element adjacent said upper surface of said base tray for mateably receiving said male element in interlocking engagement when said lid portion is folded adjacent said upper surface of said base tray.    
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said female element comprises a slot formed in said upper surface of said base tray, and wherein said male element is a corner of said lid portion.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said lid portion is operably configured to cover only said first compartment when said lid portion is at a closed position.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said lid portion comprises two opposed planar members, said opposed members being adhered along a top edge and a bottom edge to define a pocket.  
   
   
       6 . A container for carrying food and beverages comprising: 
 a base tray having a first compartment for holding a consumable product, said base tray having one or more second compartment operably configured to hold a consumable product; and    an upwardly extending wall portion extending from a rear wall of said base tray, said upwardly extending wall portion comprising an advertising display.    
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said upwardly extending wall portion comprises a first member and a second member, said first and second members being adhered at upper, opposing edges and lower, opposing edges to form said advertising display.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said upwardly extending wall portion is hingedly attached to said base tray such that said upwardly extending wall portion moves between a first configuration covering said first compartment and a second configuration allowing access to said first compartment.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said upwardly extending wall portion comprises two planar, opposed members, said members being adhered along a top edge and a bottom edge to define a pocket.  
   
   
       10 . A container for carrying a consumable product, said container comprising: 
 a base tray having opposed side walls and an upper surface, said upper surface defining a first compartment for holding a consumable product; and    an upwardly extending wall extending substantially vertically from one respective said side wall beyond said upper surface.    
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said upwardly extending wall comprises: 
 a first planar member having a top edge and a bottom edge; and    a second planar member attached to said first planar member adjacent said top and bottom edges to define a pocket between said first and second planar members.    
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein said upwardly extending wall is pivotable between a first configuration covering said first compartment and a second configuration allowing access to said first compartment.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12  further comprising means for releasably fastening said upwardly extending wall to said upper surface of said base tray when said upper wall is at said first configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 12  wherein: 
 said upwardly extending wall includes a male element; and    said upper surface of said base tray defines a female element for mateably receiving said male element when said upwardly extending wall is at said first configuration.    
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said upwardly extending wall is pivotable between a first configuration covering said first compartment and a second configuration allowing access to said first compartment.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said upper surface defines a second compartment configured to hold a consumable product.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said upwardly extending wall is selectively removable from said base tray.  
   
   
       18 . A tray for holding and carrying consumable products and non-consumable materials comprising: 
 a base forming at least one compartment for holding a consumable product;    a lid extending upward from said base; and    said lid forming a pocket for holding at least one of a consumable product and a non-consumable product.    
   
   
       19 . The tray of  claim 18  wherein the lid is foldable onto a top of the base, and the top of the base contains at least one slit for receiving a corner of the lid when the lid is folded onto the top of the base.  
   
   
       20 . The tray of  claim 18  wherein the lid is foldable onto the top of the base, and at least one of a top of the base and a surface of the lid in contact with the top of the base contains an adhesive for securing the lid to the base when the lid is folded onto the base.  
   
   
       21 . The tray of  claim 18  wherein the lid has a surface that contains advertising indicia.  
   
   
       22 . The tray of  claim 18  wherein the base forms at least two compartments, and one of the compartments has a shape different from at least one other compartment.