Drip tray

Abstract

A drip tray ( 40 ) having an outer surface which comprises a transparent window pane ( 42 ) surrounded by a frame ( 44 ) is disclosed. The transparent window pane ( 42 ) lies over a compartment ( 60 ) adapted to retain display indicia ( 54 ), e.g. advertising material. An enclosed volume ( 50 ) lies under the frame ( 44 ) and is in fluid communication with the outer surface via drainage passageways ( 46 ). The compartment ( 60 ) is isolated from the outer surface and the enclosed volume so that liquid spilled on the outer surface does not contaminate the display indicia ( 54 ).

1 . A drip tray comprising:
 a body portion having:   an outer surface including a transparent window surrounded by a frame; and   a compartment under the transparent window, the compartment being adapted to retain display indicia so that the display indicia is viewable through the transparent window; and   a drainage volume for retaining liquid in fluid communication with the outer surface via one or more drainage inlets in the frame,   wherein the outer surface and drainage volume are isolated from the compartment to permit liquid to drain from the outer surface and be retained in the drainage volume without contaminating the display indicia.   
   
   
       2 . A drip tray according to  claim 1  including a tray portion, wherein the body portion is removably mountable in the tray portion and the drainage volume includes a passageway through the body portion to define a fluid flow path from the outer surface into the tray portion, which is arranged to retain liquid. 
   
   
       3 . A drip tray according to  claim 2 , wherein the compartment is a liquid-proof sealable pocket within the body portion. 
   
   
       4 . A drip tray according to  claim 3  comprising a plug that is reversibly insertable into the pocket to seal the display indicia therein. 
   
   
       5 . A drip tray according to  claim 4 , wherein the plug includes a recess at a position which intersects with the passageway through the body portion when the plug is inserted into the pocket. 
   
   
       6 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the drainage volume is an enclosed volume of the body portion for retaining drained liquid. 
   
   
       7 . A drip tray according to  claim 6 , wherein the body portion comprises a base which defines the drainage volume and a cover which includes the outer surface. 
   
   
       8 . A drip tray according to  claim 7 , wherein the base is welded to the cover. 
   
   
       9 . A drip tray according to  claim 7 , wherein the cover is removably attachable to the base along cooperating contact edges. 
   
   
       10 . A drip tray according to any of  claim 7 , wherein the base includes retaining means for holding the display indicia in the compartment. 
   
   
       11 . A drip tray according to any of  claim 7 , wherein the cover includes retaining means for holding the display indicia in the compartment. 
   
   
       12 . A drip tray according to any of  claim 7 , wherein the enclosed volume is a trench covered by the frame. 
   
   
       13 . A drip tray according to  claim 12 , wherein the trench extends around the whole periphery of the transparent window. 
   
   
       14 . A drip tray according to  claim 12 , wherein the trench borders the compartment. 
   
   
       15 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is mountable on a horizontal surface such that the outer surface is an angled slope relative to that surface, whereby the angled slope defines a flow direction for liquid to drain from the outer surface. 
   
   
       16 . A drip tray according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more drainage inlets include one or more inlets located downstream from the transparent window in the flow direction. 
   
   
       17 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more drainage inlets are arranged such that every straight line flow path across the frame from the transparent window to an edge of the body portion intersects with a drainage inlet. 
   
   
       18 . A drip tray according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more drainage inlets are arranged such that every straight line downstream flow path across the frame from the transparent window to an edge of the body portion intersects with a drainage inlet. 
   
   
       19 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent window is a rectangle and the frame has a substantially uniform width. 
   
   
       20 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent window and frame are formed in one piece. 
   
   
       21 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent window and frame lie on the same plane. 
   
   
       22 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the display indicia is a sheet-like member and the compartment includes a slot for securely receiving the sheet-like member. 
   
   
       23 . A drip tray according to  claim 22 , wherein the sheet-like member is a folded sheet of plastic arranged to retain an interchangeable insert therewithin. 
   
   
       24 . A drip tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes an access recess to permit removal of the display indicia. 
   
   
       25 . A cover for a drip tray, the cover comprising:
 an outer surface including a transparent window surrounded by a frame;   a compartment under the transparent window, the compartment being adapted to retain display indicia so that the display indicia is viewable through the transparent window;   one or more drainage inlets in the frame; and   an attachment portion for attaching the cover to a base having a volume for retaining liquid from the drainage inlets;   wherein the outer surface and drainage inlets are isolated from the compartment and the attachment portion is arranged to isolate the volume in the base from the compartment to permit liquid to drain from the outer surface without contaminating the display indicia.