Iceless vendor tray

Abstract

An iceless vendor tray maintains the temperature of liquid in beverage containers in a container compartment of the iceless vendor tray. The iceless vendor tray has walls defined by an outer shell and inner shell with a cavity therebetween. The cavity has a coolant therein. The coolant will maintain the liquid at or below the desired temperature without the addition of ice or other cooling device in the container compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An iceless vendor tray comprising:
 first and second end walls and first and second side walls defining a beverage container compartment sized to hold at least twenty-four (24) full twelve-ounce beverage containers, the first and second side walls and first and second end walls comprising an inner shell and an outer shell joined to the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining a cavity therebetween; and   a coolant in the cavity, wherein the vendor tray will maintain liquid in the at least twenty-four (24) beverage containers at a temperature of less than 41° for a desired length of time without the placement of any cooling agents in the container compartment, wherein an outer surface of least one of the first and second side walls is curved.   
     
     
         2 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 1  further comprising gripping handles extending outwardly from the first and second end wells. 
     
     
         3 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 1  further comprising an anchor configured to connect to a carrying strap extending from the first and second end walls. 
     
     
         4 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 1 , wherein the vendor tray will maintain the temperature of liquid in the beverage containers at a temperature of less than 41° for a least one hour. 
     
     
         5 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 1 , wherein the vendor tray will maintain the temperature of liquid in the beverage containers at a temperature of less than 41° for at least four (4) hours. 
     
     
         6 . An iceless vendor tray comprising:
 a pair of opposed side walls;   a pair of opposed end walls connected to the pair of opposed side walls and defining a beverage container compartment sized to carry at least twenty-four (24) twelve (12) oz. beverage containers;   a coolant placed in an interior space in the side walls and end walls; and   a carrying handle extending from both of the pairs of end walls.   
     
     
         7 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the side walls has a curved outer surface. 
     
     
         8 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 7 , wherein the outer surface is a concave outer surface. 
     
     
         9 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 6  wherein the coolant comprises a gelatinous blend of amorphous natural high-polymer carbohydrates. 
     
     
         10 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 6 , wherein the coolant will maintain the liquid in the beverage containers at a temperature of 41° or less for a desired amount of time without the placement of any cooling agents in the container compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an anchor attached to each of the end walls; and   a carrying strap connected to the anchor, the carrying strap configured to be placed on the neck and shoulder area of an operator carrying the iceless vendor tray.   
     
     
         12 . The iceless vendor tray of  claim 6 , wherein the coolant is disposed in a contaminant bag. 
     
     
         13 . A method of delivering beverages to patrons in seats at a sporting event comprising:
 placing a vendor tray with hollow outer walls in a freezer unit until a coolant in the hollow outer walls is at least partially frozen;   removing the vendor tray from the freezer unit;   loading a container compartment defined by the outer walls with at least twenty-four (24) full beverage containers having a liquid capacity of at least twelve (12) ounces; and   carrying the loaded vendor tray into the seating area of the sporting event.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising delivering cooled beverage containers to the patrons. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising reloading the vendor tray with a plurality of beverage containers containing at least twelve (12) ounces of liquid prior to placing the vendor tray back into the freezer unit and delivering the beverage containers from the reloaded vendor tray to patrons in the sporting event venue. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising positioning a curved outer wall adjacent an operator carrying the vendor tray. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising stacking not-in-use trays for storage by placing a lower end of a not-in use vendor tray into the open upper end of another not-in-use vendor tray. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the vendor tray is placed in the freezer until the coolant at least partially freezes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  comprising placing at least thirty (30) beverage containers with a liquid capacity of sixteen (16) ounces in the vendor tray and delivering the beverage containers to patrons in the entertainment venue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the coolant comprises a freezable gel.