WO2008115106A1

WO2008115106A1 - Floating tray

Info

Publication number: WO2008115106A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/050171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nic LÖVING
Original assignee: Fagerdala Por-Pac Ab
Priority date: 2007-03-19
Filing date: 2007-03-19
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating tray (1 ) comprising a floating body (2) of expanded polypropylene, which on its upper side is provided with one or several recesses (3) designed to receive a drinking glass or a beverage container.

Description

Floating tray

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a floating tray that is buoyant in water and intended to be used for supporting drinking glasses or beverage containers, for instance in a pool or a lake.

When relaxing in a swimming pool or a lake, it might be desirable to have easy access to beverages. US patent No. 6 491 179 B2 discloses a floating tray which can be put into the water in order to provide an easily accessible support for drinking glasses, beverage cans etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a new floating tray, which in at least some aspect offers an advantage as compared to previously known floating trays.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a floating tray having the features defined in claim 1 .

According to the invention, the floating tray comprises a floating body of expanded polypropylene, which on its upper side is provided with one or several recesses designed to receive a drinking glass or a beverage container. The floating body provides the support for the drinking glasses or beverage containers and also the required buoyancy for the floating tray and the objects placed thereon. Thus, no separate floating member is required and the floating body may be manufactured in one piece in a simple manner by moulding. Expanded polypropylene (EPP) is an environment friendly and durable material of low weight that is easily mouldable. Expanded polypropylene also has good buoyancy, does not absorb water and has good heat insulating properties. Thus, a floating body of expanded polypropylene is excellent for supporting drinking glasses or beverage containers containing cold beverages to be consumed by a person relaxing in a swimming pool or a lake. The tray according to the present invention may for instance also be used for supporting drinking glasses or beverage containers containing cold beverages to be consumed by a person relaxing in a sauna, during a picnic etc.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said one or several recesses are arranged in an area on the upper side of the floating body that is surrounded by a raised outer rim. Hereby, beverage which is accidentally spilled out of a drinking glass or a beverage container supported on the floating body is retained on the floating body by the outer rim and prevented from flowing into the surrounding water.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the floating tray comprises a lid of expanded polypropylene, which is attachable to the upper side of the floating body so as to cover said recesses. The lid may be used to cover the upper side of the floating body during transport and storage of the floating tray and may also be placed upside-down, for instance in water, and used as a separate buoyant tray for supporting snacks or the similar during use of the floating tray.

Further advantageous features of the floating tray according to the invention are indicated in the dependent claims and the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, a specific description of preferred embodiments of the invention cited as examples follows below. In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a perspective view from above of a floating tray ac- cording to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig 2 is another perspective view from above of the floating tray of Fig 1 ,

Fig 3 is a perspective view from below of the floating tray of Fig i,

Fig 4 is a lateral view of the floating tray of Fig 1 , and

Fig 5 shows the floating tray of Fig 1 with a lid arranged thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A floating tray 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs 1 -5. The floating tray 1 comprises a floating body 2 of expanded polypropylene (EPP), which is buoyant in water. The floating body 2 is moulded in one piece of expanded polypropylene. Owing to the fact that expanded polypro- pylene is durable and not absorbent to water, no external layer or covering of any other material is required on the floating body 2.

A number of recesses 3 are arranged in the floating body 2 on the upper side thereof. Each one of said recesses 3 is designed to receive a drinking glass or a beverage container, for instance in the form of a beverage can or a small beverage bottle. In the illustrated example, the floating body 2 is circular as sees in a planar view and provided with six such recesses 3 evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the floating body 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, the floating body 2 is also provided with a central recess 4 designed to receive a larger beverage bottle or a jug, and the above-mentioned recesses 3 for receiving drinking glasses or beverage containers are distributed about this central recess 4. The outer recesses 3 are arranged in an area 5 on the upper side of the floating body 2 that is surrounded by a raised outer rim 6. This area 5 on the upper side of the floating body 2 is also separated from the central recess 4 by a raised inner rim 7.

The floating tray 1 is with advantage provided with a buoyant lid 8 of expanded polypropylene, which is attachable to the upper side of the floating body 2 so as to cover the above-mentioned recesses 3, 4 during transport and storage of the floating tray, as illustrated in Fig 5. When separated from the floating body 2, the lid 8 may be placed upside-down and used as a separate tray for supporting snacks or the similar.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordi- nary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A floating tray, characterized in that the floating tray (1 ) comprises a floating body (2) of expanded polypropylene, which on its upper side is provided with one or several recesses (3) designed to receive a drinking glass or a beverage container.

2. A floating tray according to claim 1 , characterized in that said one or several recesses (3) are arranged in an area (5) on the upper side of the floating body (2) that is surrounded by a raised outer rim (6).

3. A floating tray according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the floating body (2) is provided with a central recess (4) de- signed to receive a beverage bottle or a jug, and several outer recesses (3) distributed about the central recess (4), each one of said outer recesses (3) being designed to receive a drinking glass or a beverage container.

4. A floating tray according to claim 3 in combination with claim 2, characterized in that said area (5) on the upper side of the floating body (2) is separated from the central recess (4) by a raised inner rim (7).

5. A floating tray according to any of claims 1 -4, characterized in that the floating body (2) is circular as sees in a planar view.

6. A floating tray according to any of claims 1 -5, characterized in that the floating body (2) is moulded in one piece of expanded polypropylene.

7. A floating tray according to any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the floating tray (1 ) comprises a lid (8) of expanded polypropylene, which is attachable to the upper side of the floating body (2) so as to cover said recesses (3, 4).