Service caddy for transporting items

Abstract

A service caddy for transporting one or several full or empty beverage containers, and providing a stacking capability for several beverage containers when it is desired to display or sell at retail multiple containers of beverages. The caddy includes a top surface having item holders, each adapted to receive a beverage container and hold the container in a stable position when being transported. The caddy also includes a bottom surface having a gripping protrusion to enable one to firmly hold the caddy when serving and transporting beverages, and cavities adapted to receive the top portion of a beverage container when a plurality of service caddies are used to create a stacked array of beverage-filled containers. The top surface and the bottom surface are connected by a sidewall. In an embodiment, a resting indenture extends between a lower portion of the sidewall and an inward portion of the bottom surface. The resting indenture is adapted to engage the forearm of the user when the service caddy is used to transport beverage containers.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 461,127 filed Jul. 31, 2006, titled “Service Caddy for Transporting Items.”FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed to a beverage service caddy, and in particular to an easily manufactured multi-beverage caddy that allows a user to carry a plurality of beverage bottles, cans, and glasses and / or cups in one hand while using the other hand to serve the beverages, or remove empty beverage containers after use.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]At various public events such as sporting events and concerts, as well as entertaining at home and serving beverages in a public house, service items such as food and beverage containers are transported to patrons for service of such food and beverages. Various means of transporting service items are known, including the use of a service caddy. However, a problem exists where the caddy is unstable, especially when transporting ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In one embodiment of the invention, a service caddy is provided for transporting at least one of a plurality of items simultaneously. The service caddy comprises a top surface, with holders for supporting one or more of the plurality of items. The caddy also has a bottom surface, and a sidewall that connects the top surface and the bottom surface. In one embodiment, the bottom surface includes a gripping protrusion to allow a user to grip the service caddy with the palm and fingers of the carrying hand. The sidewall in an embodiment has a curved resting indenture extending partially up a segment of the sidewall. The resting indenture is at an angle to the bottom surface, and is generally shaped to fit a mammalian forearm, thus providing adequate stability while the caddy is used to transport items.

Problems solved by technology

However, a problem exists where the caddy is unstable, especially when transporting multiple items, thereby possibly causing the items or their contents to spill or break.

A second problem with the traditionally known food / beverage caddy is that its sidewall is substantially circular, having a bottom surface that can be difficult to stabilize while transporting without grasping the caddy with two hands.

This shape does not provide adequate stability when the caddy rests, for example, on the forearm of the user; thus, there is a higher risk that the items or their contents will spill or break, or fall out of the caddy.

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