STACKABLE CONTAINERS WITH SUPPORT BAND
A food carrying system comprises a plurality of food service items including at least one container and optionally one or more plates, drink carriers, and/or trays. At least one of the food service items includes opposing strap openings formed in an edge, encircling flange, or opposed flange handles thereof. A support band encircles the stack, passing through the strap openings, and ends thereof are affixed together to stabilize the stack and in embodiments providing a hand-hold for carrying the stack. The band can further extend through a strap opening provided in a separate handle, so that the stack can be carried using the handle. Strap openings can be provided on lids and/or bases of the containers. Strap openings can be closed ovals, or can be C-shaped, having open outer edges. Band ends can be joined by adhesive, hook-and-loop, knot tying, stapling, snaps, buttons, etc.
1 . A food carrying system comprising:
a plurality of stackable food containers, each having a base and a lid; and
a flexible support band encircling the food containers when stacked, ends of said band being configured for mutual engagement with each other, thereby enabling said encircled food containers to be maintained in a stack during lifting and transport,
wherein at least one of the containers includes a pair of opposed strap openings formed in a surrounding edge or flange or opposed flange handles thereof and in that the flexible support band is configured for threading through the strap openings such that slack in the band provides a hand hold for carrying the containers when stacked.
2 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposed strap openings are formed in the lid of the first stackable food container.
3 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposed strap openings are formed in the base of the first stackable food container.
4 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , wherein the food containers further include a dinnerware item.
5 . The food carrying system of claim 4 , wherein the dinnerware item is a plate.
6 . The food carrying system of claim 4 , wherein the dinnerware item is a tray.
7 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , further comprising a handle, said handle comprising a handle strap opening through which the support band can be threaded so as to facilitate carrying the stacked food containers.
8 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the strap openings is closed, thereby forming an oval shape.
9 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the strap openings is open on an outer side thereof, thereby forming a C shape.
10 . The food carrying system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the food containers does not include strap openings.