Assistive food and beverage tray

Abstract

A tray for carrying food, beverages or other items has a surface partitioned to carry such food and beverage products. At least one corner of the tray extends laterally outward from the surface of the tray. This extension serves to engage the arm of the user, thereby eliminating rotational moments in two horizontal axes of the tray and preventing rotation of the tray about the two horizontal axes.

1 . A tray for carrying food and beverage products and the like, comprising: 
 a first surface on the tray, the surface adapted to carry food, beverage and other items;    a second surface on the tray, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface adapted to carry food, beverage and other items when the tray is inverted;    a portion of the tray having an aperture extending through the tray, the aperture adapted to receive either forearm of a user, the tray adapted to rest upon and be partially supported by the forearm of the user.    
   
   
       2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second surfaces comprises at least one partition, the partition defined by sidewall portions extending outwardly from at least one of said first and second surfaces, the partition defining a cavity adapted to hold said food, beverage and other items in place on said at least one surface.  
   
   
       3 . The tray of  claim 2  wherein the at least one of said first and second surfaces includes a plurality of cavities.  
   
   
       4 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein each of the surfaces includes an edge extending around the tray to form a rim, the rim extending in a direction away from each of the surfaces to provide a raised rim relative to each surface.  
   
   
       5 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends through an edge portion of the tray.  
   
   
       6 . The tray of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the tray comprising the aperture extends in a lateral direction outward from the edge portion of the tray.  
   
   
       7 . A tray for carrying food and beverage products and the like, comprising: 
 a surface on the tray, the first surface having a raised edge extending around the tray forming a rim around the surface, the tray having at least two corners;    each of the two corners extending laterally outward from the surface of the tray, each extended corner forming tray support surfaces.    
   
   
       8 . The tray of  claim 7 , wherein the tray is adapted to be held by the laterally extending forearm of a user, each of the tray support surfaces adapted to contact a portion of the forearm of the user to provide partial support for the tray.  
   
   
       9 . The tray of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the rim extending between the at least two corners is defined by a curved contour.  
   
   
       10 . The tray of  claim 9 , wherein the curved contour portion of the rim is adapted to abut the abdomen of a user as the user holds the tray.  
   
   
       11 . The tray of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one grip handle extending downward from the rim of the tray, the grip handle adapted to be gripped by a deformed hand of a user.  
   
   
       12 . The tray of  claim 11  wherein the at least one grip handle is integrally formed with the tray.  
   
   
       13 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one grip handle extends along at least one lateral edge of the tray.  
   
   
       14 . A tray for holding food and beverage products and the like, comprising: 
 a surface on the tray, the surface adapted to carry food, beverage and other items;    at least one corner of the tray having an exterior portion extending laterally outward from the at least one corner;    the extending exterior portion adapted to engage the arm of a user, the engagement of the extending exterior portion with the arm eliminating rotational moments in two horizontal axes of the tray and preventing rotation of the tray about the two horizontal axes.