US20140131364A1

US20140131364A1 - Tray-pocket shaper combination for making decorative patterns arrangement of items, pocket shapers and methods of using

Info

Publication number: US20140131364A1
Application number: US13/998,347
Authority: US
Inventors: John Hart Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-25
Filing date: 2013-10-23
Publication date: 2014-05-15

Abstract

The disclosed invention involves a combination of a tray of various sizes and shapes and having a wall around at least a part of its periphery and one or more removable pocket shapers comprised of separators, grids, etc. for forming pockets on a top surface of the bottom of the tray, the pockets having a bottom area of 3 inches or more, the combination allowing easy, fast preparation of attractive patterns of different edible and/or non-edible items having distinctive boundaries therebetween when the pocket shapers are removed vertically. Also disclosed are methods of forming a multitude of such arrangements using such combinations.

Description

The invention involves trays and one or more pocket shapers, tools, grids, and separators, forming pockets at least partially open on the top and open on the bottom, for use with the various so-called trays, to easily and quickly make attractive patterns of different edible and/or non-edible items having distinctive boundaries, but absent permanent partitions, and methods of forming a multitude of such patterns, arrangements on the so-called trays.

BACKGROUND

Serving dishes and pans of many kinds having permanent partitions formed in them to form “pockets” for different foods, snacks, appetizers, treats and the like are well known. In such dishes or pans the “pockets” are fixed and cannot be changed. If one wants to change the size, layout or design of the “pockets” one would have to hunt for the desired dish or pan and then find where it is sold and buy it. By “pockets” is meant the shape of the area or enclosure formed within the partitions. The “pockets” are generally in the form of one or more polygons including squares, rectangles, triangles, trapezoids, and the like. The word “generally” is used because the partitions are sometimes curved somewhat. For parties, meetings, family or friendly get-togethers it is often desirable to put out trays of “goodies”, finger-food, treats, etc. and to do so using such partitioned dishes where the partitions are permanent, or to use large trays, preferably having a short vertical or angular sidewall around its periphery and to place small items like nuts, dried fruit, candy pieces and the like in a pleasing pattern using a tedious, time consuming and careful placement of the different items. These types of finger foods and others are very popular because many of them tend to reduce the bad kind of cholesterol. Producing trays with patterns of items, usually small items as described above, is extremely time consuming if one desires the boundaries of the different items to be sharp and straight, or in continuous curves. As a result such presentations, although very desirable, are seldom used because of the time and tediousness required. Also, there exists drip catch trays, splash trays, food molds and oven grid trays, but these are unsuitable and impractical for making treat trays of finger food or decorative trays of other items in a desirable pattern because of one or more of the pockets being too small, too many pockets, pocket shapes unattractive, grids, etc. forming pocket boundaries not removable or do not extend to the bottom of the tray or if so, do not have sufficient height, trays unattractive and other reasons. A combination of a plurality, almost an endless selection, of different tray shapes and types in combination with a one or more of an almost an endless selection of removable member shapes that act as temporary separators when placed in the tray to form a plurality of pockets of various shapes, all of a practical size for the intended use, for placing different small items such as various kinds of finger food or other objects to form an attractive pattern will allow the user to be creative in making an almost an endless number of attractive and useful tray combinations are not known, but would be very desirable and useful.

SUMMARY

The invention includes a combination of a dish, tray, platter, plate, basket, partial box or the like, hereinafter called tray or tray(s) of various shapes and one or more removable grids and/or one or more removable separators and/or one or more removable pocket shapers, like or similar to cookie cutters, forming “pockets” of various shapes between members, sections of the grid(s), the one or more separators and/or the one or more cookie cutters and/or the one or more grids fitting the tray(s) and the edges, walls or edge portions of the tray. Instead of or in addition to one or more grids, one or more separators and/or one or more cookie cutters, open at the top and the bottom can be used. By “pockets” is meant shapes or areas formed within the partitions of the one or more grids, and/or one or more separators and/or one or more cookie cutters and one or more edges and/or edge portions and/or walls of the tray. These combinations are used to quickly and easily prepare attractive arrangements of various items for eating, displays or other uses, without having to use tray(s) that contain permanent partitions or permanent compartments, thus permitting various and different arrangements on any tray having no more than one or two permanent partitions, normally having no permanent partition(s). The “pockets” are generally in the form of one or more circles, semi-circles, pie wedge shapes, diamonds, hypocycloids and polygons including squares, rectangles, triangles, trapezoids, and also numerous shapes including those found in conventional cookie cutters, and the like. By pocket shaper is meant the type that are open at the bottom and mostly open at the top with one or more strips, usually metal, but can be any material suitable for contact with edible snacks and treats for the purpose of this invention. Some conventional cookie cutters are useful as pocket shapers. By relatively open means that the pocket shaper, e.g. a cookie cutter, can be filled with snack(s) or treat(s) from the top without needing a tool to reach under anything covering a portion of the top, e.g. a handle or reinforcement piece. By separator is meant a single strip that is formed with one or more angles and/or one or more curves along its length, forming two or more pockets in or on a tray. The word “generally” is used because the grid sections or grid members and also the separators are often curved or bent to more or less extent in one or more places along a length. By the terms “grid(s)” or “grid”, either partial or complete, is meant two or more strips contacting one another in one or more places forming two or more pockets or partial pockets, the partial pockets formed by one or more edges or one or more sides, or one or more edge portions, of a tray the grid(s) are resting on. By separator(s) is meant a bent strip forming, with an edge, wall, or outer portion of the tray one, but usually two or more pockets. By edge portion is meant the outer portion, such as up to 1.5 inches from the outer edge of the tray, around all or a part of the periphery of the tray. Any grid, grid segment, separator and/or pocket shaper can be used with one or more other grids, grid segments, separators and/or pocket shapers on a tray to form a desired arrangement. Also, sometimes it will be desirable, particularly when the tray does not have walls or when the walls taper upward at a low angle, to keep the outer edges of the pockets of treats and/or snacks a reasonable distance away from the outer edge(s) of the tray so that users will not knock or drag snack or treat items off of the tray onto the surface the tray is setting on.
The height of any of the one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and/or pocket shapers can be greater than is needed to make the arrangements, the excess height useful for gripping and lifting these items out of the arrangement of treats, snacks and/or other decorative items. The excess height need not be uniform along the top of the one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and/or pocket shaper(s), e.g. the excess height can include, or be in the form of a tab on the top of a grid, a grid segment, a separator or a pocket shaper as will be shown below.
The invention also includes tools comprised of one or more strips, optionally having permanent or removable handles, the one or more strips having one or more “grabber” and/or “grabbers” and/or a “gripper and/or “grippers”, preferably that are movable, that are attachable to one or more grids and/or one or more grid sections and/or one or more separators and/or one or more pocket shapers including cookie cutters, The “grabber or grabbers” are things attached to the strip or strips that will connect with the grid(s) and/or separator(s) and/or cookie cutter(s) strong enough to allow these items to be lifted vertically or generally vertically by the strip(s) and grabbers out of the placed snacks, treats, or other filler items without disconnecting from the grabber(s). The grabbers can include one or more magnets, spring clamps, hooks, rings, paper clips, pieces of tape having a sticky coating on one side and the like that can be used to conveniently place one or more grids and/or one or more separators and/or one or more pocket shapers including one or more cookie cutter type enclosures in desired locations on trays and/or to lift the grid(s), separator(s), pocket shapers and/or cookie cutter(s) alone or as a group away from the finished treat, snack or display tray after placing the treats, etc., in the desired arrangement. The grid segment(s) or section(s) and/or separator(s) can be straight, bent, curved, round or other shape forming an arc, a semicircle, a full circle or a partial or full polygon or any zig-zag or serpentine shape. By a display is meant an attractive design using two or more of non-edible and/or edible items arranged in an eye-appealing manner. Some of the almost endless list of edible and non-edible items useful in making such a display is mentioned below, but as will be obvious to artisans, this is only a partial list taken from a list too long to complete here. A hook or hooks as used herein include all manner of hook including L-shaped hooks. The difference between a cookie cutter and a pocket shaper is in the scope of the terms, the pocket shaper including strips of material forming an enclosure, a desired shape, but normally not suitable for using as a cookie cutter because the pocket shaper is not strong enough to cut through a layer of cookie dough and/or the thickness of the strip of material forming the pocket shaper is thicker than desired for a cookie cutter, e.g. significantly thicker than 0.03 inch. Like 1/16 inch or 1/18 inch, or up to about 3/16 inch or so.
The tray(s) preferably have a wall running around the periphery (peripheral wall), or near the edge of the dish, the wall making an angle with the bottom of the dish ranging from about 90 degrees to about 170 degrees. The peripheral wall need not extend around the entire periphery but can extend around only a portion of the periphery, preferably around a majority of the periphery and more preferably around at least about 52 to at least about 90 percent of the length of the periphery. The peripheral wall(s) can be of any reasonable height or length, but normally will be less than about 3 inches, more normally less than about 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5 or 0.25 inch(s) except when the peripheral wall or edge making an angle with the horizontal of about 16 degrees or less. In the latter case the peripheral wall or edge can be of any length, but normally will be less than about 6 inches and more typically will be less than about 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 or 0.75 or 0.5 or 0.25 inch(s). The grid(s) can have the same, less or greater height and the outer edge(s) of the grids can be shaped to essentially fit the angle of the peripheral wall, especially when it is desired to extend the pockets up on an outer peripheral wall or edge sloping upward, by an angle of about 16 degrees or less say (1-4 degrees) from the horizontal, by some fraction of the length of the peripheral sloping edge. By essentially fit means that any gap between an outer edge of the grid and the inside surface of the peripheral wall shall be no greater than about 0.25 inch, more preferably no greater than about, 0.20, 0.15, 0.125, or 0.16 inch. By tray or tray(s) is meant any reasonable shape of a serving or presentation container such as an item or food item holding dish, pan, tray or the like made from a material comprising a ceramic, porcelain, stoneware, graniteware, glass, metal, wood, plastic, paper, composite, wax, and a food item, like chocolate, hard candy, ice, fruit, vegetable and the like, and any combination of these materials. While the preferred dish is one having no permanent partitions, nevertheless a dish can have one or more permanent partitions in some portion of the dish, but will have a portion of the dish having no permanent partitions and it is this latter portion of such a dish that this invention also includes and is used in the method of the invention.
The removable grid for forming a pattern can form “pockets” of any desired size(s) and shape(s) as long as the grid fits within the periphery of the dish. The removable grid can be used alone for a dish or can be used with one or more other removable grids so long as the two or more removable grids form “pockets” that fit within the periphery of the dish. Each removable grid is formed by, one or more, usually two or more, grid members or segments shaped such as to form at least one “pocket” when placed in or on the dish. The height of the grid members will usually be about the height that the peripheral wall of the dish extends above the top surface of the dish, but can be greater or less than this height. The grid members should be thin, but thick enough to hold the desired shape of each grid member, and therefore the thickness will depend somewhat on the stiffness of the material of the grid member. The grid(s), grid members, separator(s) and cookie cutters can be of any material suitable for contact with the things being used to fill the one or more pockets, and can be metal, preferably corrosion proof metal suitable for contact with food items, plastic, glass, ceramic, wood, paper, waxed paper and the like. The grid member(s) can be integral with one another, there being no joints where the grid member(s) intercept one another, or can be attached by any suitable manner, including, but not limited to soldering, gluing, fusing, welding, riveting, at the intersections. The removable grid(s), separator(s) and cookie cutter(s) can have one or more handles to make it more convenient to place the removable grid into or onto the dish and particularly for removing the grid carefully so as to minimally disturb the pattern of the “pockets” and the edible items or other items in the “pockets”. Preferably the one or more handles can be hinged near the top of the grid member(s) that the handle(s) are attached to so the grid takes up less space in storage.
The shapes of the “pockets” formed by the grid and grid members can be about any desired shape including one or more polygons, squares, rectangles, triangles, trapezoids, parallelograms, circles, ovals, semi-circles, segments of a circle or semi-circle, pentagrams, hexagrams, octagons, pentagons, and the like, diamonds, stars with two, three, four, five, six, seven or more points, hourglasses, and any combination of such shapes. Other shapes are endless and include Christmas trees, crosses, cars, airplanes, balloons, tractors, ships, boats, stars, ginger bread men, pumpkins, churches, hearts, scarecrows, snowmen, and the like.
The invention also includes the removable grids described above with all kinds of grid patterns for making an almost endless number of patterns of different treats as a matter of choice of the manufacturer and user of the grids. Several different grid patterns are presented in the drawings, but this is only a small sampling of the almost endless grid patterns that can be made and used. The grids can have one or more handles to aid in removing the grids, usually one, two or three handles, the handles usually extending upward from the grid but not necessarily as the handle(s) can extend outwardly, usually, but not necessarily, from an upper portion of the grid. The grid can be formed from a single piece of bendable material or from two or more segments in close arrangement at ends where they would otherwise join, contact with or be bonded together at locations where one segment touches another segment. The grid can be made from many materials including, but not limited to, paper, wood, plastic(s), metal, glass or ceramic. The grid can have one or more handles for aiding in removing the grid without significantly disturbing the pattern and shape of the items inside the two or more pockets. Preferably one handle extending above the center or near-center of the grid or two or more handles elsewhere on the grid, including extending outwardly from two outer edges of the grid. The top surface of the tray, the majority of the bottom area of at least the majority of the pockets, preferably at least, 55, 60 or 66% of the pockets, formed by a removable grid, a removable grid segment, a removable separator, a removable pocket shaper, excluding cookie cutters, and/or one or more walls of the tray will have an area of at least 2, preferably at least 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or more square inches.
The invention also includes methods of making and using one or more removable grids, grid segments and/or one or more separators and/or one or more pocket shapers with a dish, pan, tray, or other container to produce a tray, etc. of various items, such as edible or food items and/or non-edible items in pleasing, sometimes very creative, patterns of different items having no partitions between the different items after the grid is removed and the dish, etc. of treats is presented for serving for snacking, for selling, for viewing, for photographing or for a combination. The method of making a grid comprises forming a grid defining at least one side of two or more pockets by either;

- a) bending a strip of bendable material to form a boundary between two or more pockets, or
- b) attaching two or more grid segments together to form at least one boundary between two or more pockets.

The methods of the invention include a method of preparing a tray, etc. containing different items, the different items being in “pockets” producing a pleasing pattern and being in contact at the pocket boundaries, there being no partitions between some of the “pockets” including the steps of:

- a) placing one or more removable grids and one or more removable separators and/or one or more removable cookie cutters in a tray, or on a top surface of a tray to form one or more pockets,
- b) filling each pocket with an item, and
- c) lifting the removable grid(s) and/or one or more removable separators and/or one or more removable cookie cutters upward essentially vertically, as vertical as necessary to prevent one pocket from substantially spilling or encroaching into/onto another pocket, to leave a pattern of two or more “pockets” of different items in contact with each other at one or more boundaries of the pockets.

This method just above can also be modified by omitting step (c) leaving the grid(s) on the tray while using to better maintain the pattern of the different items more distinct during use, but this modification is often not preferred. Normally the items will differ from each other in adjoining “pockets” in one or more ways, the ways including color, shape, size, type of item. The items are typically edible food, snack, appetizer, or treat, hereinafter referred to as treat items, including, but not limited to nuts, candy, fresh or dried fruits and berries, raw vegies, flavored dried peas, corn nuts, flower blossoms, whole or partial herb leaves, meat balls, chicken or meat nuggets, pickles of all kinds, any of these items covered with chocolate, cocoa, powdered sugar, chopped nuts, one or more spices, ground or fractured candy, crumbs of cereal, crackers, dried bread, and the like. The items can also include non-edible items including glass gems, pellets, balls, beads, metal balls, cubes, etc., seeds, seed pods, rose hips, flower blossoms, whole or partial leaves, nuts in shell, dried beans or peas, plastic gems, pellets, balls, wood gems, pellets, balls, etc., jewels, nuts (for bolts), coins, tokens, rocks, sand, gravel and similar items, and any combination of two or more of these items.
The invention further includes a combination of a dish, tray, platter, plate or the like of various shapes and one or more removable grids forming “pockets” of various shapes between members of the grid, the one or more grids fitting the dishes, and two or more different edible or non-edible items in the pockets formed by the grid(s). The dishes preferably have a wall running around the periphery (peripheral wall), or near the edge of the dish, the wall making an angle with the bottom of the dish ranging from about 90 degrees to about 170 degrees or from about 10 degrees to about 175 degrees from a top surface of the tray, dish, pan, etc. The peripheral wall need not extend around the entire periphery but can extend around only a portion of the periphery, preferably around a majority of the periphery and more preferably around at least about 52 to at least about 90 percent of the length of the periphery. The peripheral wall(s) can be of any reasonable height or length, but normally will be less than about 3 inches, more normally less than about 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5 or 0.25 inch(s) except when the peripheral wall or edge making an angle with the horizontal of about 16 degrees or less. In the latter case the peripheral wall or edge can be of any length, but normally will be less than about 6 inches and more typically will be less than about 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 or 0.75 or 0.5 or 0.25 inch(s). The outer edge(s) of the grids can be shaped to essentially fit the angle of the peripheral wall, especially when it is desired to extend the pockets up on an outer peripheral wall or edge sloping upward, by an angle of about 16 degrees or less say (1-4 degrees) from the horizontal, by some fraction of the length of the peripheral sloping edge. By essentially fit means that any gap between an outer edge of the grid and the inside surface of the peripheral wall shall be no greater than about 0.25 inch, more preferably no greater than about, 0.20, 0.15, 0.125, or 0.16 inch.
Further, when the word tray is used it can mean, in addition to tray, a dish, a pan, a platter, a plate, or any other container or serving, presentation article meeting the description provided above and in the figures. By grid, separator, being pocket shapers, is meant a strip of various shapes and materials and of sufficient height to contain the desired depth of the items to be placed next to the grids when placed on the top surface of the bottom of a tray, cooperates with one or more walls on the periphery of the tray to form one or more pockets. While a cookie cutter, a pancake mold and the like do not normally meet this meaning, they can nevertheless be used in the invention along with one or more pocket shapers. Also, when the word “about” is used herein it is meant that the amount or condition it modifies can vary some beyond that stated so long as the advantages of the invention are realized. Practically, there is rarely the time or resources available to very precisely determine the limits of all the parameters of one's invention because to do so would require an effort far greater than can be justified at the time the invention is being developed to a commercial reality. The skilled artisan understands this and expects that the disclosed results of the invention might extend, at least somewhat, beyond one or more of the limits disclosed. Later, having the benefit of the inventors' disclosure and understanding the inventive concept and embodiments disclosed including the best mode known to the inventor, the inventor and others can, without inventive effort, explore beyond the limits disclosed to determine if the invention is realized beyond those limits and, when embodiments are found to be without any unexpected characteristics, those embodiments are within the meaning of the term “about” as used herein. It is not difficult for the artisan or others to determine whether such an embodiment is either as expected or, because of either a break in the continuity of results or one or more features that are significantly better than reported by the inventor, is surprising and thus an unobvious teaching leading to a further advance in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art tray with permanent partitions for separating different food items.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a typical tray of the invention having a removable grid of the invention resting on the tray bottom inside side(s) of the tray.

FIG. 2A is the tray of FIG. 2 after items have been placed in pockets of the removable grid and after the removable grid has been removed according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of the tray of FIG. 2 showing optional sidewall(s).

FIG. 3A is similar to FIG. 3, but shows other embodiments of sidewall(s).

FIG. 4 is a plan view of of one of very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another of very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another of the very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of still another of the very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a modification of the grid shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of yet another of the very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another of the very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of another of the very many possible tray/grid/pocket shapes possible with the invention.

FIG. 10A is a plan view of a modification of the grid shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of just one of the many, many possible grid shapes according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another of the many, many possible grid shapes according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of still another of the many, many possible grid shapes according to the invention.

FIG. 13A is a modification of the grid shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a multi-component mold for forming a grid from a liquid material.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the grid shown in FIG. 2 showing optional handles that can be part of or attached to the grids to aid in removing the grids.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a hypocycloid pattern in a square or rectangular tray.

FIG. 17 shows pocket shapers on a rectangular tray ready to be filled and surrounded by snack and/or treat items.

FIG. 17A is a cross section of a typical metal cookie cutter.

FIG. 18 shows pocket shapers on a tray ready to be filled and surrounded by snack and/or treat items.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a tool according to the invention used to place and/or remove one or more grids, separators and/or pocket shapers from the tray.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the tool shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a tray having a plurality of two pocket shapers in the shape of letters and numbers.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a tool embodiment for use in placing and removing the pocket shapers shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a front view of another tool embodiment using hooks to be connected to hooks on two pocket shapers.

FIG. 23A is a partial end view of the tool shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 23 B is a partial front view showing a swivel feature of items shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 24 is a partial front view of a pocket shaper with an eye bolt shape attached to one side.

FIG. 24A is a partial front view of a pocket shaper with a hook attached to one side.

FIG. 25 is a partial front view of a different tool embodiment.

FIG. 25A is a partial front view of another different tool embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a front view of a different embodiment of a pocket shaper having side attachments for grabbers to grab.

FIG. 26A is a front view of another different embodiment of a pocket shaper having different side attachments for the grabbers to grab.

FIG. 26B is a plan view of the pocket shaper of FIG. 26.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of one of many possible separators used in the invention.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of a tray and another separator according to the invention.

FIG. 29 is a plan view of an embodiment comprising a tray with a pocket shaper and separator combination.

FIG. 30 is a partial front view of a pocket shaper or grid or grid segment or separator having a gripping tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE AND SOME EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a tray like those that are typically used in self serve eating events like “pot-luck dinners”, small cafeterias, etc. This tray 2, usually made of plastic, glass, ceramic, paper, wood or metal, has a bottom 6, side(s) 5 and a plurality of permanent partitions 3, 4 integral with the bottom 6 and side(s) 5 for separating areas A, B. C and D so that different foods can be placed in each area without the foods combining or running into each other as is well known. While this prior art tray 2 has 4 separated areas, trays having fewer or more separated areas are well known. The partitions 3, 4 are permanent and cannot be removed or changed in these prior art trays, etc. While they can be used to separate treats for a party, meeting, etc., the partitions are noticeable as is the tray, etc. as a common eating tray, etc. and does not make an attractive, different presentation of treats, etc., nor do these kind of trays allow one to create a plurality different patterns using the same tray.
FIG. 2 shows a simple embodiment of the invention in the form of a tray, platter or plate, herein tray, 8. The tray 8 can be flat or generally flat without side(s), but preferably has optional sides 10 that are vertical or generally vertical or that can slant outward as shown in FIG. 3 to make any angle with a bottom 12 of the tray 8, but preferably will make an angle 11 with the vertical 10 of 0 to about 80 degrees. A grid 9 having various segments 14 is shown inside the tray 8 resting on the bottom 12 and with the outer edges 16 of the grid segments 14 touching or nearly touching the inside of the side(s) 10. The grid segments 14 form a plurality of separated pockets 15 for holding different items, such as different food items. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the tray 8, after each of the pockets 15 formed by the grid segments 14 having been filled with different food items, preferably with the same food item not being in adjoining pockets and after the grid 8 has been lifted out as vertically as practical leaving a pattern of different food items having reasonably distinct lines of separation 14A, but touching and presenting a unique presentation, such as party, meeting or guest treats. In a typical example of a party treat tray 8A, the different treats could be as follows: a—dried cherries b—cashew nuts, c—raisons, d—hazel nuts, e—yellow currents, f—jelly beans, g—roasted almonds, h—chocolate covered cranberries and i—M&M®'s. Many, many other food items could be used in place of any of the items just described including, but not limited to, red hots, chocolate covered nuts of all kinds, Boston baked bean candy, caramel corn, candy corn, dried apricots, gooseberries, blue berries, beans or all kinds, dried peas and on and on. Some non-food items could include, but are not limited to, dried corn kernels, nuts in the shell, decorative seeds, wood tokens, coins, like pennies, colored plastic tiddly winks, glass gems and/or marbles, etc. to use as a persons game pieces to identify different players, a particular player, a winner(s) and/or a loser(s). As described throughout this disclosure, the items are loose, individual small pieces, usually dry, of various shapes such as finger foods, treats, decorative pieces and the like.
FIG. 3A shows some other possible embodiments of other trays 8A that can be used in the invention, but are less preferred. In these embodiments one or more of the sidewalls 10A can taper inward towards the upper surface of the bottom 12, 12A by any angle including zero degrees, but an angle 13 of about 1 to about 45 or 35 or 20 degrees would be more practical. However, practical is not what guides some designs of trays in the normal broad meaning of that term herein, thus these limits. In these embodiments the grids used have to be of a size, the outer dimensions of the grid, that it will enter the opening made by the inside top edges 7 of the walls 10A.
FIGS. 4-10 show a few of the almost endless number of trays of different shapes and different patterns of grids forming some of the pockets possible with the invention. In all embodiments of the invention the grid can be in a single part or can be in two or more separate parts or grids to form the pattern of pockets desired. FIG. 4 shows a rectangular tray 18 having side(s) 17 and rounded corners 19, however the corners can be square like shown in FIG. 7, with or without inclined sides. A grid 20 forms pockets in FIG. 4 that include two diamond shaped pockets l, p, six triangular pockets k, m, o, n, q and r and two generally triangular pockets, s and t, one on each end extending from one side to an opposite side at their widest dimension. FIG. 5 shows a similar generally rectangular tray 21 having side(s) 23 and a grid 25 forming three square shaped pockets 22, 24 and 26 and four generally square or generally rectangular shaped pockets 28, 30, 32 and 34. FIG. 6 shows a round tray 36 having side(s) 37, and a grid 39 forming a round shaped pocket 38 in the center, or generally centrally located, and four or more partially—circular, or arc shaped segments 40, 41, 42 and 43 between the central pocket 38 and the side(s) or edge(s) 37 of the tray 36, i.e. these segments or pockets surrounding the central circular pocket 38. FIG. 7 shows a square or rectangular tray 44 having side(s) 45 and containing a grid 46 forming a round shaped pocket 47 in the center, or generally centrally located, and two or more generally triangular shaped pockets surrounding the circular pocket 47. This embodiment has four generally triangular shaped pockets 48, 50, 52 and 54 surrounding the circular pocket 47.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 a grid 59 forms five triangular shaped pockets 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64 between a central circular pocket 58 and edge(s) 57 of a tray 56, i.e. these pockets surrounding the central circular pocket 58, with the pockets forming a five pointed star pattern leaving a generally triangular shaped pocket 65 between the two star points 61 and 62 and two different shaped pockets 68 and 70, one on at each end portion of the eye shaped platter 56. This shape of grid 59 and the eye shaped platter 56, or with oval shaped, diamond shaped or rectangular shaped platters, is particularly useful where one or more small items like red hots, raisins, spices, Spanish peanuts, and the like form the star points and one or more large items like chicken nuggets, broccoli spears, small carrots, meat balls and the like form the two large flanking ends with dipping sauce, or other treat can occupy the center round pocket 58, even if in a container fitting loosely inside the center round pocket 58.
FIG. 9 shows a triangular shaped tray 72 and a grid 73 forming, with edge(s) 77, or sides, of the platter four triangular pockets 74, 75, 76 and 78. FIG. 10 shows a trapezoidal shaped platter 80 having a long edge 83, or side, a shorter edge 84, or side, and two flanking angled edges 85, 86, or sides. A grid 82, with the edges 83, 84, 85 and 86 forms five triangular shaped pockets 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91. On any embodiment, the trays can be flat, generally flat, or have sides or inclined edges as shown in any of the FIGS. 2-10 including FIGS. 3 and 3A. Also, instead of angled edge portions or sides the sides can be curved upward and inward to some practical extent. The grid 82 in FIG. 10, and similar grids such as grid 9 in FIG. 2, can comprise separate grid members put together with or without attachment to each other by using the grid members or segments 82 and 82A in which the shown in FIG. 10A with the spacing 113A between these grid segments where they contact or nearly contact each other being small, preferably smaller than the size of the items being placed in the pockets formed by the grid segments 82, 82A and the wall or sides of the tray on which they sit.
FIGS. 11-13 show only three of an almost endless number of different shaped grids, or partial grids, possible according to the invention. FIG. 11 shows a grid 93 formed by two curved grid segments 94, 95 touching at point 96 where the grid segments 94, 95 are bonded together by one or more of known attachments, such as by one or more rivets 97. Other means of attaching grid segments in this embodiment and any embodiments include, but are not limited to, fusion bonding, adhesive, soldering, welding, stapling, screw(s), bolt(s) and nut(s), clips, snaps, and the like. FIG. 12 shows a grid 98, or a partial grid, comprising a circular segment 99 with four straight segments 100, 101, 102 and 103 attached to the circular segment 99 at one end 105 of each of these straight grid segments. An alternative way to make a stronger attachment, particular when using an adhesive, is to bend an end portion 99A on each of the grid segments 100, 101, 102 and 103 to the outer radius shape of the circular segment 99 to provide more interface for bonding. FIG. 13 shows a grid 106, or a partial grid, comprising bent segments 108 and 110 and straight segments 107, 109, 111 and 112. These grid segments are attached at contact points 113, 114 and 115 by any suitable attachment methods as described above. As shown in FIG. 13A, the grid 106 can alternatively be made up of grid segments such as two diamond shaped grid segments having sides 108, 109 and 111 and/or smaller grid segments having sides 110 and 112, or even the side pieces 108, 109, 110 111, and 112 in separate pieces. When put into place to form the grid or pocket shapers 106, the spacing 113A between the ends 113 and 115 of the various grid segments can be as described in the previous paragraph.
FIG. 14 shows forming, making a one-piece grid 118, or partial grid, enclosed by mold sides 120 and comprised of mold segments 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. Enclosed mold segments 128, 129, 130, 131, 132,133 and 134 positioned inside the space formed by the outer mold segments to form the grid shape 118 when a liquid material is poured into the grid pattern formed by all of the mold segments and allowed to solidify. The liquid can be any suitable material that will solidify with time, cooling, heating, treating with a gas and other known methods of solidifying. The material can be a molten plastic, resin, metal, water or a liquid thermosetting resin, plaster of Paris, cement, adhesive and other settable materials. Grids or partial grids can also be made by forming the desired grid pattern with thin strips of flexible material like paper, thin wood strips, aluminum foil, and similar materials and then spraying with an adhesive, acrylic spray, paint spray or other spray that will stiffen and strengthen the strips, and adhere them at the contact areas, when the spray dries or sets up. Alternatively the strips can be bonded together at the contact points/areas by stapling, clips or other means prior to spraying. Also alternatively, the strips can be dipped in a bonding or settable liquid prior to forming the grid and then allowing to dry or set up to form the grid.
To use the tray, grid combinations to produce a tray of treats, beads, tokens, or of any other suitable things, the shape of the tray is selected and one or more suitable grids are selected and placed on the tray to produce a desired pattern of pockets on the selected tray. Next, edible treats or non-edible items are placed in each of the pockets to produce the desired presentation. While the grid(s) can be left on the tray for use to keep the different items in the pocket separated, it is preferable to carefully remove the grid(s) by carefully lifting the grids vertically or generally vertically upward, so as not to significantly disturb the desired pattern on the tray, until the grid(s) are clear of all the treats or non-edible items leaving the tray having the desired pattern of different edible treats or non-edible, or a mixture of the two, ready for use. One or more handles can be permanently attached to the top or top portion(s) of the grid, or can be temporarily attached, by any known manner to aid in lifting the grid out of or off of the tray. Temporary attachments can include, but are not limited to, spring loaded clamps or clips attached to the handle(s), one or more stubs on the handle(s) for inserting into one or more holes in one or more of the grid segments, magnetically, and one or more holes or eyes in the handle(s) that attach to one or more pins, hooks and/or stubs in or on the grid. FIG. 15 shows a front view of the grid 9, shown in plan view in FIG. 2, and shows a few of the many kinds of handles that are possible to use on the grid(s) according to the invention. A handle 132 is centrally located while optional and/or alternative handles 134, 135 extend outwardly from opposite outer, top portions of the grid 9, and different shaped optional and/or alternative handles 137, 138 extend from the top of a central grid segment 14. The shape of the handle is not critical as long as it is useful to aid in removing the grid. When centrally located, a single handle can be used that can be used with one or two hands, but if not centrally located, it may be necessary to use two handles to enable vertical or generally vertical removal of the grid. Alternative handles 140 and 141 are in the shape of a rod with a ball or half of a ball on top of the rod. Any shape of handle within reason would be suitable in the invention.
FIG. 16 shows a tray 142 containing a grid 144 in the shape of a hypocycloid forming a hypocycloid shaped pocket 146 and four surrounding shaped pockets 143. The hypocycloid can be symmetrical side-to-side, top to bottom and both side to side to side and top to bottom or non-symmetrical.
FIG. 17 is a plan view of a tray arrangement 150 using a rectangular tray 152 having tapered walls 154 inclined at an angle of about 20 degrees with a bottom 156 of the tray 152. In this embodiment one pocket shaper 153, a modified cookie cutter 158, and two cookie cutters 160 and 162 open topped and open bottomed, are spaced apart on the bottom 156 of the tray 152. Cookie cutter portion 158 in this embodiment is a Raven, cookie cutter 160 is a Jack-O-Lantern having a sub-assembly 149 comprised of eyes 151, nose 155 and a mouth 157, all held together with thin bands or pins 163 and 165 at the top of the sub-assembly 149, and cookie cutter 162 is a scarecrow. The cookie cutters used can be conventionally made cookie cutters, preferably, but not necessarily made from thin strips of a metal or plastic, but wood, glass or paper can also be used. FIG. 17A shows a cross section of a typical metal cookie cutter. This cookie cutter is made from a metal strip about 0.15 to about 1 inch or more wide, from top to bottom, but any material will work including ceramic, glass, plastic, wood, paper and cardboard. The metal strip 159 can have an optional bent over portion 161 at the top for reinforcement and strength if desired, and this optional feature will make it easier to attach or contact one or more grabbers on a removal tool that will be described in detail below, particularly if a gap 145 is sufficient in size to permit a hook or finger to grab the bent over portion 161 to lift the grid, separator, pocket shaper or cookie cutter from the tray. This same construction is also useful for making the grids, the separators, i.e. the pocket shapers used in the invention. As shown by many of the figures of various embodiments of the invention, pocket shapers, including separators, grids and grid segments, cooperate with one or more walls, sides of a tray to form pockets for the pattern(s) desired. However, the gap 145 can be zero and still satisfy the function of making the strip 159 more rigid to hold the desired shape. Also, while cookie cutters can be used as pocket shapers in the invention, the method of the invention need not use cookie cutter shapes and therefore the invention is separate from using only cookie cutters alone spaced away from the walls of a tray to form the decorative pattern of different items, i.e. embodiments where the cookie cutters are not located against or very close (within 0.25-0.5 inch) to a wall of the tray.
The Jack-O-Lantern cookie cutter 160 In FIG. 17 includes a sub-assembly 149 comprised of two triangular eyes 151 connected with thin strips 163 to a triangular nose 155 that is connected to a crescent shaped mouth 157 with thin strips 163 and 165. This sub-assembly 149 is placed on the bottom 156 of the tray 152 inside the cookie cutter 160 in a desired position. Once the three pocket shapers 158, 160 and 162 are placed in the desired position, each is filled with a desired treat, snack or decorative item. Then, another desired treat, snack and/or decorative item can be placed on the bottom 164 of the tray 152 around the pocket shapers 158, 160 and 162, up to the walls 154 if desired. Once this is completed, each of the pocket shapers 158, 160 and 162 can be lifted up vertically to clear the treat, snack and/or decorative item on each side of the strips 159, either one at a time, or if desired, as a group using a tool like that shown in FIGS. 19, 20 and 21, or an obvious equivalent. A typical embodiment of a finished treat tray would be licorich pieces in the pocket shaper of a crow 158 sitting on a round rail of Spanish peanuts, orange candy pieces filling pocket shaper 160 with yellow M&M's® candy filling the sub-grid 149 and finally caramel popcorn or Virginia peanuts filling area 164. The pocket shaper 162 is a scarecrow, but can be other shapes.
FIG. 18 is a plan view of another arrangement 166, just one of an almost endless number of possible arrangements, this one suitable for Christmas parties, that can also be modified with one or more separator, modified cookie cutters or grid pocket shapers. This arrangement is on an oval tray 167 having a vertical wall 168 around a periphery of a bottom 170. Three cookie cutters 172, 174 and 176 are spaced apart on the bottom 170 in a desired pattern, forming another area 178 on the bottom 170 of the tray surrounding the three cookie cutters 172, 174 and 176 that can be filled with a different treat, snack and/or decorative item. The cookie cutter 174 is Santa going down a chimney with a bag of toys. As just one example, green gum drops could fill the pocket shaper 176, Boston baked bean candy and white jelly beans could fill the pocket shaper 174, dried yellow raisons could fill pocket shaper 172 and popcorn could fill area 178.
FIG. 19 shows an embodiment of a placement and/or removal grabber tool of the invention in plan view with FIG. 20 showing a front view of the same tool. This placement and/or removal tool embodiment comprises an elongated strip 180, optionally having a handle 182 attached to the elongated strip 180 in any suitable manner, preferably in a removable manner. Alternative optional handle(s) are shown as 187 and 188 in FIG. 20 and can be anything easy to grip and hold onto including one or more knobs, eye bolts, rings, rods, screws, hooks and the like. In this embodiment the grabber is a long strip of a magnet 185 and the elongated strip 185, and optionally one or more additional movable and/or removable strips 184, 186 are a ferrous metal or any other material attracted to a magnet. Optionally, the magnet strip 185 can be in two or more pieces 185 a instead of one piece, the optional magnet pieces movable along the strip 180 and any optional strips 184,186. The magnet piece 185, or pieces, will attach to one or more grids and/or grid segments and/or separators and or other pocket shapers, see 180 in FIG. 18, so long as they are a material attracted to a magnet including iron, steel and alloys thereof. When the material is thin, paper clips can be attached to the removable items with movable hooks attached to the strip(s) on the tool to snag or grab the paper clips for lifting. Also, pieces of tape having a sticky coating on one side can be attached to the strip(s) of the tool and to the grid, one or more grid segments, one or more separators and/or to one or more of the pocket shapers. Any of these are movable by sliding or removing and reapplying at the desired location.
FIG. 21 is a plan view of another embodiment in which all of a plurality of cookie cutters in the form of either letters and/or numbers setting on a rectangular tray 191. Here a typical example of a treat tray might be where all of the letter cookie cutters 183 are filled with dried red cherries, the number cookie cutters 190 are filled with dried Wasabi peas and the surrounding area 189 is filled with white mints. While the letters 183 making up the word HAPPY and the term TH could be fastened together with permanent connecting strips, pins, etc., such as sub-assembly 149 in FIG. 17, this is not preferred because it would prevent the individual letter pocket shapers 183 from being used in other words. The same applies to the number pocket shapers 190. This arrangement can be changed by modifying one or more of the cookie cutter letters 183 and/or numbers 190 to cooperate with a wall of the tray 191 to make more pockets in the tray 191.
FIG. 22 shows in plan view a tool according to the invention made up to place onto, and/or to remove the cookie cutters 183, 190, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, from the tray 191. This tool comprises a steel main strip 180 spanning the cookie cutter pocket shapers 183 forming the word HAPPY, the main strip 180 having one or more movable magnet grabbers (not shown) stuck to all or a portion of its underneath surface by magnetic attraction and having one or more knobs 187 for easy lifting, two cross strips 184,186 stuck to movable magnet grabbers 194 on the bottom side of the main strip 180 for holding a secondary strip 192 spanning the number 50 and the term TH, the secondary strip 192 held to the cross strips 184, 186 by any suitable means such as small, movable magnets 194 placed on the underneath surface of the cross strips 184, 186 and the top surface of the secondary strip 192. The secondary strip 192 can also have one or more handles or knobs 187 attached for easy lifting using the knob(s) 187 like on the main strip 180.
FIG. 23 is a vertical cross section of another embodiment of a strip tool shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. This strip tool 197 is comprised of a main strip 198, usually metal, but can be wood, plastic or other materials, having a C-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 23A holding an upper slidable portion of a holder piece 207 (see FIG. 23). Optionally, it can have one or more handles, like 182, 187 (see FIGS. 20 and 22) or any suitable handle or knob type. One or more grabbers, in these embodiments having optional movable and swiveling hooks 200, 201, and/or spring clamps or clips 202, including binder clips, bulldog clips and equivalents, and/or eye shaped pieces 203 are movable along the main strip 198, or any additional crossing strips (not shown) to any desired position, and can swivel full or part circle to grab suitable attachments on the grid, grid segment, separator and/or pocket shaper to enable one to lift one or more of these out of the arranged treats, snacks or other items vertically without significantly disrupting the arrangement. Any minor disruption that might occur in removing the pocket shaper(s), including the grid(s) and/or grid segment(s) and/or separator(s) and even modified cookie cutters, can be easily and quickly repaired with a spatula, spoon, knife, finger(s) or other suitable tool. The grabbers need not be movable or able to swivel, but having one or both of these features makes the placing and removing tool more adaptable to the tasks that are involved using the invention.
FIG. 23B is a partial front view of any grabber showing one of many known swivel structures. In this embodiment the hook 200, 201 is comprised of a lower hook portion and an upper portion 207, having at its upper end a horizontal member 206 for movement along the C-shaped strip 198 and holding the hook 200, etc. in the strip tool 197. The upper portion 207 also has a circular indent 208 as shown for holding clevis pieces 205, 205A, each having a flat portion on a bottom end, the flat portion entering a centered hole 200A through a hole 200A in the upper end portion of the hook 200, 201, etc. extends into the hole 200A in the flat portion to enable the grabber, such as the hook 200, to rotate 360 degrees in either direction around the indent 208 in the upper portion 207.
FIG. 24 is a partial front view of a pocket shaper, grid, grid segment or separator 176, including a cookie cutter, having eye-bolt shaped member 209 fastened to a pocket shaper, etc. 176 on a side of the pocket shaper, etc. 176 by any suitable manner including spot welding, soldering, riveting, etc. The eye-bolt shaped member 209 can be an eye-bolt, but is preferably cut from a thin layer of metal, plastic, wood, paper and the like, such as material thinner than ⅛ inch, usually much thinner such as 1/16, 1/20, 1/25, 1/30, 1/32, etc. inch or thinner. The eye-bolt shaped member 209 is useful for using the tool shown in FIGS. 19-23A, and similar tools, for placing and removing grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and pocket shaper(s) onto and off of the trays. FIG. 24A is a front view of the pocket shaper 176 with a hook 210 attached as described above for the same purpose. These attachments 209, 210, etc. to grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and pocket shaper(s) can also be used to place and remove these items of the invention onto and off of the trays using ones' fingers and thumbs, with or without projections like sticks, pencils, pens, forks, handles, and the like.
FIG. 25 is a partial front view of the tool strip 198 having an optional handle 182 with a length of tape 212, e.g. masking tape, invisible tape, adhesive tape, electrical tape, and the like, with one end portion 213 adhered to a top surface of the strip 198 and an opposite end portion 214 adhered to a side of a pocket shaper, like the pocket shaper 176. One or more strips of tape 212 adhered to the tool strip 198 and one or more pocket shapers will permit one to lift one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and pocket shapers to place them on a tray and to lift them out of the arrangement when the arrangement is finished. FIG. 25A is a partial front view of the hook 200 (suspended from a tool such as the one shown in FIGS. 23, 23A, with one end of a large, common paper clip 215 hanging on the hook 200 and the other end portion of the paper clip 215 fastened to the pocket shaper 176 and partially surrounding an indented projection 216 on the strip 217 forming the pocket shaper 176. Any projection, including made by an indent, screw, nail, or the like will serve to hold the paper clip in place when lifting one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and/or pocket shaper(s) onto and out of a finished arrangement of treats, snacks and/or other decorative items.
FIGS. 26, 26A and 26B show alternative features used with a tool of the invention, such as the one shown in FIG. 23, i.e. some of the many different configurations that can be attached to one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and/or other pocket shaper(s) to allow hooks, various clips or other attachments on tools of the invention, including tool 197, to lift them onto trays and out of the finished or nearly finished arrangements made according to the invention. FIG. 26, a front view of a pocket shaper 222 having two different hook configurations 219, 220 attached, one to the exterior of each side of the pocket shaper 222. FIG. 25B shows these two different hook configurations 219, 220 attached to a pocket shaper 222 in plan view, showing that the hooks 219, 220 can be made of a thin layer of material and that the cross section of the hooks can be elongated to enable more flexibility in the location of the hook(s) or other grabber(s) that will engage the hooks 219, 220 in use. FIG. 26A shows another hook 224 having about a right angle shape for attaching to the side of the grid, grid segment, separator and/or pocket shaper 222. Attached to the other side of the pocket shaper 222 is a straight, or preferably tapered, member 226 that is especially suitable for use with various kinds of clips including spring clips, binder clips, bulldog clips and spring clamps, as one example of many possible embodiments, the spring clamp 202.
FIGS. 27, 28 and 29 are plan views of just three of an almost endless number of possible separators 230, 240 and 250, two setting on a tray, useful in the invention. FIG. 27 is a plan view of a separator 230 that is in one piece forming two straight sides 231 and 232 with a bend forming an angle, curve, or it can be a weld, adhesive, or solder joint, 233 at the juncture of the straight sides 231 and 232. The separators can be made of any materials useful in the grids, grid segments and pocket shapers and of the same thickness. The height of any of the one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and/or pocket shapers can be greater than is needed to make the arrangements, the excess height useful for gripping and lifting these items out of the arrangement of treats, snacks and/or other decorative items. The excess height need not be uniform along the top of the one or more grid(s), grid segment(s), separator(s) and/or pocket shapers as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 30, a partial front view showing an excess height tab 237 on a grid, a grid segment, a separator, a pocket shaper 235, and/or including on a modified cookie cutter. The tab 237 can optionally have a hole 238 in it to enable a grabber, like the hooks 210 or 201, to engage the tab 237. Where one or more cookie cutters and/or pancake molds are used along with the forgoing, these can also have similar tabs 237 with or without a hole 238, or other kinds of handles or means of griping them for placement and removal.
FIG. 28, a plan view, shows one of an almost endless number of possible separator shapes, separator 240, setting on the bottom of a rectangular tray 241 having a vertical wall 242 around its outer periphery. The separator 240 is curved and forms three different areas 244, 245 and 246 for filling with different filler items, such as treats and/or snacks and/or other decorative items. After filling, the separator 240 is lifted carefully vertically out of the filler items leaving a decorative, attractive arrangement having no permanent partitions between the different filler items. FIG. 29, a plan view, shows another of an almost endless number of possible separator shapes, a curved separator 250, setting on the bottom of a rectangular tray 251 having a vertical wall 252 around its outer periphery with also one of an almost endless number of possible cookie cutters or pancake molds, a heart shape pancake mold 254, having a knob handle 255 for lifting, setting on the tray 251 in an area 257 formed by the tray walls and the separator 250. The pancake mold 254 along with the curved separator 250 form four separate pockets, 256, 257, 258 and 259 for filling with treats, snacks and/or other decorative items. Any grid, grid segment, separator and/or pocket shaper can be used with one or more other grids, grid segments, separators and/or pocket shapers on a tray to form a desired arrangement.
For purposes of the description of the invention and illustrated/described embodiments of the invention, generally flat is meant that the top surface of the bottom 12 of the tray 8 makes an angle no greater than 15 degrees with the horizontal, and by generally vertical is meant within about 84 degrees from vertical. By nearly touching is meant coming within such a distance from the sides of the tray 8, or the desired extent of the items being placed in the tray 8 to form the desired pattern that the different items do not significantly or substantially pass from one pocket to an adjoining pocket.
Different embodiments employing the concept and teachings of the invention will be apparent and obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art and these embodiments are likewise intended to be within the scope of the claims. The inventor does not intend to abandon any disclosed inventions that are reasonably disclosed but do not appear to be literally claimed below, but rather intends those embodiments to be included in the broad claims either literally or as equivalents to the embodiments that are literally included.

Claims

1. A combination of a tray having a bottom with a top surface, one or more walls around the periphery of the top surface and one or more removable grid segments and/or removable pocket shapers that will sit on the top surface of the tray, the one or more removable grid segments or removable pocket shapers, in cooperation with one or more of the walls, and/or one or more partitions of or on the tray, forming a plurality of pockets that form a decorative pattern above the top surface of the tray with at least two of the pockets each having an area on the top surface of at least 3 square inches.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the edge is an outer or top edge of the wall.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the edge is where the wall meets the top surface of the tray.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the wall makes an angle with the top surface within the range of about 170 to about 30 degrees.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shape of the top surface is selected from a group consisting of a square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, septagon, octagon, circle, half-circle, oval, long oval, wide oval, a star,

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein the shape of the top surface is selected from a group consisting of a square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, septagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, circle, half-circle, oval, long oval, wide oval, star, daisy flower blossom,

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tray has no permanent partitions.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein the tray has no permanent partitions.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tray is comprised of one or more of a ceramic material, a plastic material, a reinforced plastic material, a wood material, metal material, a paper material and/or a stone material.

11. A combination of a tray having a bottom having a top surface, a wall around at least a majority of the periphery of the top surface and one or more removable grid segments and/or removable pocket shapers that alone or in cooperation with the wall, and/or one or more partitions, of or on the tray will sit on the top surface of the tray bottom and within the confines of the wall to form a plurality of pockets in the tray, each pocket having an area of at least 4 square inches, the plurality of pockets forming a decorative pattern, the combination excluding drip catching trays, splash trays, known food molds and oven drip trays.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein the edge is an outer or top edge of the wall.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein the edge is where the wall meets the top surface of the tray.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein the wall makes an angle with the top surface within the range of about 170 to about 30 degrees.

15. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tray has no permanent partitions.

16. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tray is comprised of one or more of a ceramic material, a plastic material, a reinforced plastic material, a wood material and/or a stone material.

17. The combination of claim 1 wherein the top surface and wall of the tray, and the one or more removable members are suitable for contact with foods.

18. A pocket shaper and/or grid segment comprised of one or more strips of material that when set on a top surface of a tray cooperates with one or more walls of the tray to form a plurality of pockets, each pocket bottom having an area of at least 4 square inches and the plurality of pockets forming a decorative pattern.

19. The pocket shaper and/or grid segment of claim 18 wherein the one or more strips of material have a height above the top surface of the tray of at least about 0.25 inch and are comprised of a metal or a metallic alloy or paper or wood or plant material or plastic or combinations thereof.

20. The pocket shaper of claim 18 wherein one or more of the pocket shapers and/or grid segments contains a portion that will form a pocket without cooperating with a wall of the tray and one or more other parts that will cooperate with the wall of the tray to form one or more different pockets.