Making and Using Serving Tray With Sauce Container

Abstract

A serving tray includes an aperture extending there through and a serving area, whereby food waste may be received through the aperture into a holding area of the serving tray pending disposal.

1 . A method of making a food serving tray assembly comprising the step of molding a hand portable container such that the container has first and second components, the second component having an exterior surface defining a serving area on a top side of the second component that is configured to receive and retain food for presentation to a person for eating and a disposal area including a raised wall that rises above the serving area and that defines a disposal opening centrally located relative to the serving area; such that the first and second components are configured to be releasably coupled together in a transport configuration in which, (i) the first component covers the serving area of the second component for protecting, during transport, food that is received upon the serving area, and (ii) wherein the first component abuts the raised wall of the second component for supporting the first and second components in the transport configuration. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding the container comprises fabricating the container from thermoplastic materials. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is fabricated in vacuum forming processes. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the first component includes a raised wall and, when in the transport configuration, the raised wall of the first component abuts the raised wall of the disposal area. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that when the first component and the second component are releasably coupled in the transport configuration, the first component seals off the serving area from the disposal opening. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that when the first component and the second component are releasably coupled in the transport configuration, the first component blocks access through the disposal opening. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the exterior surface defining the serving area is configured to receive and retain a plurality of bone-in chicken wings and the disposal opening is configured to receive there through discarded bones of the chicken wings. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the second component further defines drain openings in the serving area for drainage of excess liquid from food received and retained in the serving area, the drain openings being substantially smaller than the disposal opening so as to avoid inadvertent descent there through of food received and retained in the serving area. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the disposal opening is centrally located relative to the serving area. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the serving area is symmetrical relative to the disposal opening. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the serving area includes a contoured surface for receiving and retaining food for presentation to a person for eating. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the serving area includes a contoured surface defining four wells each for receiving food therein. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the serving area includes a contoured surface defining a plurality of channels radially extending from the disposal opening. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of molding a container comprises molding the container such that the serving area slopes along a radial direction from a center of the serving area toward a perimeter of the serving area. 
   
   
       15 . A method of providing food to a customer which food generates food waste when eaten, comprising the steps of:
 (a) arranging on a hand portable serving tray assembly food that generates food waste when eaten, the serving tray assembly comprising a container including first and second components, the second component having an exterior surface defining a serving area on a top side of the second component that is configured to receive and retain food for presentation to a person for eating and a disposal area including a raised wall that rises above the serving area and that defines a disposal opening centrally located relative to the serving area; such that the first and second components are configured to be releasably coupled together in a transport configuration in which, (i) the first component covers the serving area of the second component for protecting, during transport, food that is received upon the serving area, and (ii) wherein the first component abuts the raised wall of the second component for supporting the first and second components in the transport configuration.   (b) after arranging of the food on the serving tray, providing the serving tray to the customer.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of providing the serving tray to the customer is by a commercial food service establishment and wherein the customer is a dine-in customer. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of providing the serving tray to the customer is by a commercial food service establishment and wherein the customer is a take-out customer. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of providing the serving tray to the customer is by a commercial food service establishment and wherein the customer is a delivery customer. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first component includes a raised wall and, when in the transport configuration, the raised wall of the first component abuts the raised wall of the disposal area. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein when the first component and the second component are releasably coupled in the transport configuration, the first component seals off the serving area from the disposal opening. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the exterior surface defining the serving area is configured to receive and retain a plurality of bone-in chicken wings and the disposal opening is configured to receive there through discarded bones of the chicken wings. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second component further defines drain openings in the serving area for drainage of excess liquid from food received and retained in the serving area, the drain openings being substantially smaller than the disposal opening so as to avoid inadvertent descent there through of food received and retained in the serving area. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the disposal opening is centrally located relative to the serving area. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the serving area is symmetrical relative to the disposal opening. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the serving area includes a contoured surface for receiving and retaining food for presentation to a person for eating.