Safetray
Inventor | Alison Grieve |
---|---|
Inception | 2009 |
Manufacturer | Safetray Products Ltd |
Available | Available |
Current supplier | safetrayproducts.com |
Website | Official website |
Safetray is a
History
Different devices have been developed in an effort to assist waitstaff in stabilising the service trays. Inventors have tried techniques such as attaching finger knobs/hubs (1998)[3] and removable hand posts (2010)[4] that protrude from the underside of the tray. They also tried the use of finger insertion holes in the tray to stabilize the tray.[5][6] To restrain the hand to the underside of the tray, inventors have looked into devices such as a hand panel allowing insertion of two fingers of a hand (1985),[7] a separately-fingered digit forward-retention device (1999),[8] and a stretchable strap that forms a loop into which the user's fingers are inserted (2003).[9]
Design and development
In December 2009[11] Alison Grieve, a 32-year-old waitress and event manager from Bruntsfield,[12] Edinburgh, witnessed a waitress drop a tray full of glasses of champagne at a corporate event for a delegation of international lawyers.[10][13][14] To address how a tray could right itself at the moment of impending tilt,[14] Grieve, a first-time inventor with a university background in 'History of film and photography',[14] developed a finger receiver attached to the bottom of a wait tray based on first-principle physics, load dispersal, and counter movement.[13][14] In a closed position, the finger receiver lays flush with the bottom of the wait tray so that the tray can sit on the surface of a bar or table without wobbling and can be stacked onto other trays.[1] When the device is open, two slots can be accessed into which a waitperson may secure their two inside fingers,[1][2] similar to how a flip-flop structurally attaches itself between the toes of the foot to counter the large stresses place upon it.[10] The Safetray product's arrangement creates a strong cantilever advantage for the waitperson to allow them additional control over torque caused by items placed in various locations around the tray.[1][14] The stability achieved with the Safetray product allows a waitperson to place a bottle of wine right at the edge of the tray while still keeping the tray in a horizontal position by reacting instinctively against the bottle's off-balance downward force.[14][15]
Intellectual property and publicity
Grieve filed for a
Sales
By June 2011, the Safetray device was being manufactured in China to meet orders that had been placed by customers throughout Europe and across America.
In February 2012, Safetray Products Ltd exhibited the product in the
See also
- Waiters' Race
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h WO application 2011107786, Alison Grieve, "Tray And Device For Stabilising A Tray", published 2011-09-09, assigned to Safetray Products Ltd
- ^ a b c "Safetray Serving Tray Reduces Accidents". Restaurant management (magazine). 29 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ NL application 1010697C2, Willem De Jong, "Serving tray with central hub on underside to allow gripping with fingers", published 2000-04-10
- ^ WO application 20101551151, Bryan Parsons, "A Serving Tray With Removable Handle", published 2010-12-29
- ^ JP application 2009273548, Isao Tobimatsu, "Tray For Serving Cooked Goods In Restaurant And Other Eating And Drinking Facilities Has Anti-Skid Part That Is Provided On Upper Surface Of Each Tray Part That Is Connected To Each Other To Form Tray Main Body", published 2009-11-26, assigned to Bridal Prod KK
- ^ CN application 201360872Y, Chen Zhengao, "Tray Used In Restaurant, Has Lower Portion Arranged In Circular Groove Formed In Upper Portion, That Has Five Finger-Shaped Grooves At The Bottom", published 2009-12-16
- ^ US patent 4628544, Joyce A. Erickson, "Server gauntlet", published 1986-12-16
- ^ US patent 6240565, Helen Terry Spear, "Waiter's hot plate arm-shield gauntlet", published 2001-06-05
- ^ US application 20050082287, Leonid Shendelman, "Serving platter", published 2005-04-21
- ^ a b c d Katrina Tweedie (13 June 2011). "Mothers of invention". Daily Record (Scotland). Glasgow. p. 28. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
- ^ a b Safetray Products (11 November 2010). "Safetray: Tales of Topples – Fiona Wallace at Foodies Festival". Safetray Products. YouTube. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Morris, Adam (6 December 2011). "Alison's topple free server is wow with drinks industry: It's tray bon! Champers in safe hands". Edinburgh Evening News. Edinburgh. p. 20.
- ^ a b c Scott McCulloch (12 March 2010). "Safetray design is signed up for growth. Grieve looking for partnership to launch internationally". Business7.co.uk. p. 5. Retrieved 8 July 2012 – via Safetray Products.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Flynn, Bob (24 December 2011). "Costly spill gave birth to the topple-proof tray". The Times. London. p. 29.
- ^ a b c d Jamieson, Bill (23 August 2010). "Dragons missed a treat from innovative Scots businesses". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. p. 4.
- UK Government News. 9 September 2011. Archived from the originalon 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ UK Trademark 2,544,881[1]
- UK Government News. 17 May 2010. Archived from the originalon 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ a b John Tylee (30 July 2011). "Close-up: Should adland back entrepreneurs?". Campaign. p. 15. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ a b Erikka Askeland. "Investment scheme passes £1m milestone". Scotland on Sunday. p. 19. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- UK Government News. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ "Gulfood: 14 Scottish Food and Drink Companies to Attend Gulfood 2012". Islamic Finance News. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ U.S. Trademark 85,591,241
- ^ Bill Jamieson (10 June 2012). "How I see it : Another knight at the opera, but plus ca change". Scotland on Sunday. p. 22. Retrieved 8 July 2012.