U.S. patent application number 14/922447 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-05 for plate with retaining structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is John PETERSBURG. Invention is credited to John PETERSBURG.
Application Number | 20160120342 14/922447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55851283 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160120342 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PETERSBURG; John |
May 5, 2016 |
PLATE WITH RETAINING STRUCTURE
Abstract
A vessel may comprise a bottom surface and a retaining structure
disposed on the bottom surface and extending outward from the
bottom surface. The retaining structure may comprise a lip spaced
apart from the bottom surface and extending inward with respect to
an outside of the vessel. The retaining structure may be configured
to removably couple to a second object disposed at least partially
between the lip and the bottom surface.
Inventors: |
PETERSBURG; John; (Ashburn,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PETERSBURG; John |
Ashburn |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55851283 |
Appl. No.: |
14/922447 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62074757 |
Nov 4, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/574 ;
220/628 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/065
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/02 20060101
A47G019/02 |
Claims
1. A vessel comprising: a bottom surface; and a retaining structure
disposed on the bottom surface and extending outward from the
bottom surface, the retaining structure comprising a lip spaced
apart from the bottom surface and extending inward with respect to
an outside of the vessel, the retaining structure configured to
removably couple to a second object disposed at least partially
between the lip and the bottom surface.
2. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the vessel is a plate, a bowl, or
a tray.
3. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the second object is a cup.
4. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising one or more nubs
extending at least as far outward from the bottom surface as the
retaining structure.
5. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises at least one
tab extending inward with respect to an outside of the food serving
vessel from the rest of the lip.
6. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure comprises
an open portion configured to accept the second object.
7. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the retaining structure comprises
a curved portion opposite the open portion configured to engage
with the second object.
8. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the lip comprises at least one
tab extending inward with respect to an outside of the vessel from
the rest of the lip, the at least one tab being disposed at the
open portion.
9. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the lip flares further outward
from the bottom surface at the open portion.
10. The vessel of claim 6, wherein: the retaining structure
comprises two edges each disposed at the open portion; and the
retaining structure extends greater than 180 degrees in
circumference from edge to edge.
11. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising the second
object.
12. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the second object comprises a
lip configured to fit between the lip of the retaining structure
and the bottom surface.
13. A food service device comprising: a vessel configured for the
placement of food thereon, the vessel including a bottom surface;
and a retaining structure disposed on the bottom surface and
extending outward from the bottom surface, the retaining structure
comprising a lip spaced apart from the bottom surface and extending
inward with respect to an outside of the vessel; and a container
sized and shaped to mate at least partially with the retaining
structure, wherein the container is removably coupled between the
lip and the bottom surface of the vessel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/074,757, filed Nov. 4, 2014, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Plates for serving food are generally thin and relatively
flat and often include an upturned outer rim. When holding food,
plates are often set on tables or other flat surfaces, but there
are many situations in which diners carry plates that are covered
in food. At many informal gatherings such as picnics or parties,
diners often eat entire meals while standing and holding their
plates. Plates of food are often awkward to hold and carry in these
situations, requiring at least one hand (and sometimes two) to
balance the plate at all times to avoid spilling food. This means a
person holding a plate of food may find it difficult to also hold a
beverage while holding the plate, and/or to or use a utensil, or
other item while holding the plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate
coupled to a cup according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate
coupled to a cup according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS
[0006] Plates or other food serving vessels described herein may
include a retaining structure for coupling a cup or other object to
the plate. A user may attach a cup to a plate and securely hold
both the cup and the plate with the same hand.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate 100
according to an embodiment of the invention. A circular plate 100
is shown in FIG. 1, although other plate shapes (e.g., square,
rectangular, oval, etc.) may be possible. The plate 100 may be made
of any material. For example, the plate 100 may be a reusable plate
made of ceramics, plastic, glass, metal, stone, wood, etc., or the
plate 100 may be a disposable plate made of paper, cardboard,
plastic, Styrofoam, etc.
[0008] The bottom surface 110 of the plate 100 may include a
retaining structure 200. The retaining structure 200 may be formed
integrally with the bottom surface 110 of the plate 100, or the
retaining structure 200 may be a separate element attached to the
bottom surface 110 with adhesive, fasteners, or a combination
thereof. The retaining structure 200 may have a roughly L-shaped
cross section forming a lip 210 spaced apart from the bottom
surface 110 of the plate. The lip may extend in an inward direction
with respect to an edge of the plate 100, for example in a
direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface 110. The
retaining structure 200 may have an open end 220 and a curved
portion 230, which may be disposed opposite the open end 220 and
may be sized and shaped to accept a lip 310 of a cup 300. In some
embodiments, the portion opposite the open end 220 may not be
curved, and may instead be flat or may comprise one or more angles,
or be of some other shape to accept a lip of a cup that is not
round, but that is instead square or some other geometric or
non-geometric configuration. Forming the retaining structure 200 in
an atypical configuration and/or size may be advantageous in that
it will require a correspondingly shaped and sized cup for mating
with the retaining structure. This may be desirable to help ensure
that the plate 100 is not used with an improperly sized cup
obtained from a different source. Alternatively, the retaining
structure 200 may be sized and shaped to mate with common,
commercially available cups (e.g., the well-known 16 oz. colored
plastic SOLO.TM. brand disposable cups). The lip 210 may have one
or more tabs 240 near the open end 220 extending in an inward
direction with respect to the rest of the lip 210. Edges 250 of the
lip 210 may be open to allow the lip 310 of the cup 300 to slide
between the lip 210 and bottom surface 110 of the plate. In some
embodiments, the edges 250 may flare away from the bottom surface
110 to allow the cup 300 to engage the retaining structure 200 at
an angle that is not parallel to the bottom surface 110. The
retaining structure may extend greater than 180 degrees in
circumference from edge 250 to edge 250, which may serve to retain
the cup 300 in the retaining structure 200.
[0009] The bottom surface 110 of the plate 100 may also include one
or more nubs 120. The nubs 120 may be formed integrally with the
bottom surface 110 of the plate 100, or nubs 120 may be separate
elements attached to the bottom surface 110 with adhesive,
fasteners, or a combination thereof. The nubs 120 may allow the
plate 100 to rest evenly on a flat surface such as a table.
Therefore, the nubs 120 may extend the same distance out from the
bottom surface 110 as the retaining structure 200 extends, or the
nubs 120 may extend farther from the bottom surface 110 than the
retaining structure 200 extends. If the nubs 120 and retaining
structure 200 extend the same distance out from the bottom surface
110, the plate 100 may rest on both the nubs 120 and retaining
structure 200 when it is placed on a surface. If the nubs 120
extend farther out from the bottom surface 110 than the retaining
structure 200, the plate 100 may rest on the nubs 120 only when it
is placed on a surface. In some embodiments, the nubs 120 may be
replaced with a ring (not shown), which may extend the same
distance out from the bottom surface 110 as the retaining structure
200 or farther from the bottom surface 110 than the retaining
structure 200 to serve the same purpose as the nubs 120.
[0010] FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective views of an underside of a
plate 100 coupled to a cup 300 according to an embodiment of the
invention. The cup 300 may be slid through the open end 220 of the
retaining structure 200 into engagement with the lip 210 of the
retaining structure 200. The cup 300 may deform to allow it to pass
by the tabs 240 of the retaining structure 200 in some cases (e.g.,
when the cup 300 is a flexible cup such as a disposable plastic
cup). To disengage the cup 300 and retaining structure 200, the cup
300 may be slid through the open end 220 in reverse. The tabs 240
and lip 210 may fit under the lip 310 of the cup 300 when the cup
300 is attached to the retaining structure. The tabs 240, by
extending inward from the rest of the lip 210, may act as a detent
to prevent the cup 300 and plate 100 from separating at the open
end 220 of the retaining structure 200 when the cup 300 and/or
plate 100 are tilted. In embodiments wherein the cup 300 deforms
when pushed past the tabs 240, the tabs 240 will extend beyond the
cup 300 when the cup 300 re-expands inside the retaining structure
200 as it clears the tabs 240. When coupled to the retaining
structure 200, the cup 300 may be used as a handle for the plate
100. The cup 300 may be engaged and disengaged with the retaining
structure 200 while containing liquids (e.g., beverages, etc.) or
solids (e.g., snacks, ice, etc.). The close position of the top of
the cup 300 to the bottom surface 110 may discourage spilling from
the cup 300 when the cup 300 and plate 100 are moved, even if a
tight seal between the cup 300 and the bottom surface 110 is not
provided. In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 3, the
plate 100 and cup 300 may be packaged together, possibly in a
pre-mated condition, and/or the retaining structure 200 and cup 300
may be formed in configurations and/or sizes that correspond to one
another so that only certain cups 300 may be coupled to the plate
100, as noted above.
[0011] While various embodiments have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of
example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled
in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In
fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to
one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement alternative
embodiments. For example, while plates 100 are described herein, it
will be appreciated that similar retaining structures 200 may be
used in similar fashion for bowls, trays, and/or other vessels or
tableware. Also, similar retaining structures 200 may not be
limited to food serving vessels, but may also be applied to any
containers or portable objects. For example, plate 100 may be a
paint roller tray, and cup 300 may be a paint container.
[0012] In addition, it should be understood that any figures which
highlight the functionality and advantages are presented for
example purposes only. The disclosed methodology and system are
each sufficiently flexible and configurable such that they may be
utilized in ways other than that shown.
[0013] Although the term "at least one" may often be used in the
specification, claims and drawings, the terms "a", "an", "the",
"said", etc. also signify "at least one" or "the at least one" in
the specification, claims and drawings.
[0014] Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that
include the express language "means for" or "step for" be
interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). Claims that do not expressly
include the phrase "means for" or "step for" are not to be
interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).
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