U.S. patent application number 10/697494 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-08 for drinking vessel holder for use with a food serving utensil.
Invention is credited to Mahawili, Imad.
Application Number | 20040129701 10/697494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32685115 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040129701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mahawili, Imad |
July 8, 2004 |
Drinking vessel holder for use with a food serving utensil
Abstract
A drinking vessel holder for a food serving utensil includes a
body having an upper generally planar surface, a bottom surface
spaced from the upper surface, and a perimeter. The body includes a
raised rim around at least a portion of the perimeter and a
transverse slot that extends into the body from the perimeter of
the body to a medial portion of the body. The slot is adapted for
receiving a stem of a stemware drinking vessel. The upper generally
planar surface is adapted for supporting a base of a cup-shaped
drinking vessel or a base of the hollow portion of a stemware
drinking vessel. In addition, the body is adapted for being mounted
to a food serving utensil wherein the drinking vessel holder can
adapt the food serving utensil to hold either a stemware drinking
vessel or a cup-shaped drinking vessel.
Inventors: |
Mahawili, Imad; (Grand
Rapids, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VAN DYKE, GARDNER, LINN AND BURKHART, LLP
2851 CHARLEVOIX DRIVE, S.E.
P.O. BOX 888695
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49588-8695
US
|
Family ID: |
32685115 |
Appl. No.: |
10/697494 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60422283 |
Oct 30, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/023.8 |
International
Class: |
B65D 021/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A drinking vessel holder for a food serving utensil, said
drinking vessel holder comprising: a body having an upper generally
planar surface, a bottom surface spaced from said upper surface,
and a perimeter, said body including a raised rim around at least a
portion of said perimeter and a transverse slot extending into said
body from said perimeter of said body to a medial portion of said
body, said slot adapted for receiving a stem of a stemware drinking
vessel, said upper generally planar surface adapted for supporting
a base of a cup-shaped drinking vessel or a base of the hollow
portion of a stemware drinking vessel, and said body adapted for
being mounted to a food serving utensil wherein said drinking
vessel holder can adapt the food serving utensil to hold either a
stemware drinking vessel or a cup-shaped drinking vessel.
2. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 1, wherein said
food serving utensil comprises a plate member.
3. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 2, wherein said
plate member comprises a rounded plate member.
4. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 1, wherein said
drinking vessel holder and said plate member are integrally formed
to thereby form a unitary member.
5. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 4, wherein said
plate member includes a perimeter portion and a raise rib extending
around at least a portion of said perimeter portion of said plate
member.
6. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 5, wherein said
raised rib of said plate member is merges into said raised rib of
said body wherein said raise rib of said plate member and said
raised rib of said body form a perimeter raised rib around said
unitary member.
7. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 4, wherein said
unitary member is formed from a plastic material.
8. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 4, wherein said
unitary member is formed from a ceramic material.
9. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 4, wherein said
unitary member is formed from glass.
10. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 4, wherein said
unitary member is formed from wood.
11. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 4, wherein said
unitary member is formed from a composite material.
12. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 1, wherein said
body includes downwardly depending webs at said slot to thereby
reinforce said body at said slot.
13. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 1, wherein said
slot includes a rounded distal end in said medial portion of said
body.
14. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 13, wherein said
rounded distal end comprises an enlarged rounded distal end.
15. The drinking vessel holder according to claim 1, wherein said
medial portion is located generally at said center of said body.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from and incorporates by
reference herein in its entirety U.S. provisional Pat. application
Ser. No. 60/422,283, filed Oct. 30, 2002, entitled DRINKING VESSEL
HOLDER FOR USE WITH A FOOD SERVING UTENSIL (Attorney Docket JET02
P-100).
[0002] The present invention relates to a holder for drinking
vessels, such as stemware, barware, cups, mugs, or the like. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a drinking vessel
holder that is particularly suitable for use and in combination
with a food serving utensil, such as a plate, tray, or the
like.
[0003] When partaking in food and drinks at a gathering, guests
often find it difficult to greet people with a hand shake, since
both hands are typically occupied--with one hand holding a plate
for food and the other hand holding the drink. Where tables are
plentiful and accessible, attendees can park their plate or drink
to greet people. But when the available horizontal surface is
limited, some guests find themselves trying to handle both the
plate and the glass in one hand in attempt to shake hands. However,
this jostling can lead dropped food, or even worse dropped plates
or glasses. Other guests simply forgo the formalities. In addition,
when food is served in buffet style unless ample space is provided
between the trays or dishes of food guests often find it difficult
to serve themselves food when they have a drink in hand.
[0004] Consequently, there is a need for a serving device that will
permit people to hold both their food and their drink with one hand
and preferably in a manner that is stable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides the drinking
vessel holder for a food serving utensil, which includes a body
having a generally upper surface, a bottom surface spaced from the
upper surface, and a perimeter. The body includes a raised rim
around at least a portion of the perimeter of the body and a
transverse slot, which extends into the body from the perimeter of
the body to a medial portion of the body. The slot is adapted for
receiving a stem of a stemware drinking vessel, with the upper
generally planar surface adapted for supporting a base of a
cup-shaped drinking vessel or base of the hollow portion of the
stemware drinking vessel. In addition, the body is adapted for
being mounted on a food serving utensil wherein the drinking vessel
holder can adapt the food serving utensil to hold either stemware
drinking vessel or a cup-shaped drinking vessel.
[0006] In one aspect, the food serving utensil comprises a plate
member. For example, the plate member may comprise a round plate
member.
[0007] In other aspects, the drinking vessel holder and the plate
member are integrally formed to thereby form a unitary member. In a
further aspect, the plate member includes a perimeter portion and a
raised rib, which extends around at least a portion of the
perimeter portion of the plate member. Further, the raised rib of
the plate member preferably merges into the raised rib of the body
wherein the raised rib of the plate member and the raised rib of
the body form a perimeter raised rib around the unitary member.
[0008] In other aspects, the unitary member may be formed from a
plastic material, a ceramic material, glass, wood, or a composite
material or the like.
[0009] According to yet other aspects, the body includes downwardly
depending webs at the slot to thereby reinforce the body of the
slot.
[0010] It can be appreciated that the drinking vessel holder of the
present invention facilitates the holding of a drinking vessel and,
further, enables a person to hold a drinking vessel and food in the
same hand while leaving the other hand free to serve themselves
food or to greet people.
[0011] These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features
of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the
following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drinking vessel holder
adapted for use with a food service utensil of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the drinking vessel holder and
food serving utensil of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the drinking vessel holder
and food serving utensil of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the drinking vessel
holder and food serving utensil of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of the drinking vessel
holder and food serving utensil of FIG. 1; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the drinking vessel
holder and food serving utensil of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a
food/drink holder for a drinking vessel and food of the present
invention. Holder 10 includes a food serving utensil 12 for holding
food and a drinking vessel holder 14 for holding a drinking vessel,
such as a stemware drinking vessel, such as a wine glass, a
cup-shaped drinking vessel, such as barware, or the like. In this
manner, holder 10 permits a person to simultaneously hold a drink
and food using a single hand, which facilitates socializing and
self serving of food or drinks at a reception, party or the
like.
[0019] Food serving utensil 12 comprises a plate member 16 with an
upwardly extending rib 18 that extends around at least a portion of
plate member's perimeter 16a. In the illustrated embodiment, rib 18
has a channel-shaped cross-section (FIG. 3A), which defines an
inner sloping side wall 20 and an outer sloping side wall 22. Walls
20 and 22 define therebetween a recess 24, which extends around at
least a portion of perimeter 16a of plate member 16. In preferred
form, sloping side wall 20 of rib 18 extends upwardly from plate
member 16 with lower edge 22a of side wall 22 being generally
coplanar with lower surface 16b of plate member 16 so that when
holder 10 is resting on a generally horizontal support surface, the
contact surface provided by the combination of the lower edge of
side wall 22 and of lower surface 16a will provide stability to
holder 10.
[0020] Drinking vessel holder 14 is of similar construction to food
serving utensil 12 and includes a plate member 26 and a rib 28 that
extends at least partially around perimeter 26a of plate member 26,
similar to rib 18. Plate member 26 further includes an elongate
slot 30, which extends into plate member 26 from outer perimeter 32
defined by rib 28 and is defined between web walls 31 and 33, which
provide local stiffness to and reduce the local stresses of plate
member 26 at slot 30. Optionally, elongate slot 30 includes an
enlarged distal end 30a, such as a circular opening, which may
provide, depending on the stem of the glass, a lateral retaining
function as well as the vertical retaining function provided by
upper surface 26b of plate member 26. The center of the rounded
distal end 30a of the elongate slot is preferably located at the
medial portion of the plate and, further, includes a center that is
generally coaxial with the center of the plate member 26. As will
be understood by those skilled in the art, when a stemware drinking
vessel stem is passed through elongate slot 30 and positioned in
enlarged opening 30a, the hollow portion of the stemware may rest
on upper surface 26a. When the connection between the stem and the
hollow portion of the stemware has an enlarged transition, which is
dimensioned greater than the lateral dimension L1 of elongate slot
30 but no greater then the lateral dimension L2 of enlarged opening
30a then after the stem of the stemware is passed through slot 30
and the stemware is lowered such that its hollow portion rests on
plate member 26, the stemware may be retained laterally by the
shoulders 30b and 30c of elongate slot while the bottom surface of
the hollow portion of the stemware may rest on upper surface 26a of
plate member 26. As will be understood by those skilled in the art,
the greater the span or footprint of the contact between drinking
vessel holder 14 and the stemware, the greater the stability of the
stemware in holder 10.
[0021] Furthermore, upper surface 26a may also provide support for
the bottom surface of a cup-shape drinking vessel, such as a mug,
barware, cup, or the like. In addition, rib 28, which extends above
upper surface 26a of plate member 26 provides a lateral restraint
for the drinking vessel when it is rested on upper surface 26a of
plate member 26.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, rib 28 and rib 18 may be formed such
that their respective outer sides 34 and 22 are substantially
contiguous to form a substantially contiguous outer perimeter wall
for holder 10. Optionally, the juncture of outer wall 34 and outer
wall 22 includes a notched portion 36 that enables a person holding
holder 10 to rest the holder on the person's index finger, which
provides for added to stability to the holder when held by a
person. In addition, holder may include a pas 36a, for example a
pad made from a cushioning material, such as a silicone material or
the like, at notched portion 36 to better distribute the weight of
holder 10 across the holder's finger and, further, to provide a
cushion.
[0023] As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, ribs 18 and 28 merge to form
a dividing rib 38 which includes side walls 40 and 42, with
sidewall 40 facing inner sidewall 20 of rib 18 and sidewall 42
facing inner sidewall 44 of rib 28. In this manner, rib 38 divides
plate member 16 from plate member 26. In addition similar to plate
member 16, lower surface 26c of plate member 26 is preferably
coplanar with lower edge 34a of outer wall 34 and also with lower
edge 22a of wall 22 and lower surface 16b of plate member 16.
[0024] As best seen in FIG. 3, notch 36 generally aligns with the
recess 46 formed between side walls 40 and 42 of rib 38 so that the
finger, such as the index finger of the person holding holder 10
may be inserted between side walls 40 and 42 to provide further
stability for the holder 10.
[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, food serving utensil 12 and
drinking vessel holder 14 are formed as a unitary member and may be
formed, for example by molding, including injection molding or
press molding or the like. Holder 10 may be formed from a plastic
material, including a reinforced plastic material, glass, a
ceramic, paper, stoneware, or wood, or the like. In forming holder
10, it is preferably that the transitions between the ribs and the
plate sections and the transitions between the merging ribs
comprise rounded or curved transitions to minimize the local
stresses in holder 10. In some applications, high friction material
may be provided on one or more surfaces of the holder to increase
stability and/or to enhance the holding function of the holder, for
example, on upper surface 26a of plate member 26 or along the
downwardly extending webs of elongate slot 30.
[0026] It should be understood further that the thickness of the
plate members and the side walls forming the ribs may be increased
or decreased as desired, depending in the material used to form
holder and also depending on the style desired. In addition, the
height of the ribs may be varied. Moreover, holder 10 may be formed
with an upwardly or downwardly or level rim of the type used in
conventional plates in lieu of rib 18 and/or 28. Furthermore, the
elongated slot may include a rounded or other shape distal end with
a lateral dimensioned L2 approximately equal to L1.
[0027] While several forms of the invention have been shown and
described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the
art. For example, drinking vessel holder 14 may be separately
formed and provided with means for attachment to a food serving
utensil, such as a conventional plate. Although both plate members
are illustrated with round or circular configurations, one or both
plate members may have different shapes, such as a multi-sided
shape, including square or triangular. Also the end of elongate
slot 30 may comprise a multi-sided shaped end as well. Other
modifications include providing reinforcing ribs at the respective
lower surfaces of the plate members or between the sidewalls of the
respective ribs to thereby reduce the local stresses in holder 10.
Also the respective side walls of the ribs may be substantially
orthogonal to the upper surface of the plate members. Therefore, it
will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and
described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by
the claims which follow as interpreted under the principles of
patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
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