Mobile-dining meal holder with beverage container

Abstract

A mobile-dining meal holder including a plate and detachable beverage cup, the cup having a lip with an annular ring thereabout projecting radially to form an interfacing surface and the plate including (a) a lid portion pressing against the interfacing surface and terminating in a downward skirt having an inner taper that engages against the same taper of the beverage container, and (b) a tray portion having food-holding areas spaced about the lid portion, the cup, plate, bead and skirt being configured and arranged to engage despite food-loading and usage forces. Food-receiving depressed regions have vertically extending portions positioned and arranged transversely with respect to pivot lines on the tray portion in order to avoid excessive flexing under food and dining loads. The beverage container acts as the pillar of support for the mobile dining meal holder. This arrangement allows the mobile-dining meal holder to disengage from the bottom of the cup. In the preferred embodiment, the beverage container has a step that locates the vertical position of the mobile-dining meal holder with respect to the beverage container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is related generally to the field of disposable dishware for serving foods and beverages—and, more particularly, to the field of combined cup and tray devices for portable use by persons who are consuming meals while “on the go.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the field of prepared-food service and dining, it is very common today for restaurants and other prepared-food outlets to serve people meals, typically made up of one or more food items together with a beverage, in or on disposable containers and/or food-holders of various types (e.g., disposable cups, plates, cartons, trays, wraps, etc.). This is typically done in what is referred to as the “fast-food” industry.

[0003] Diners involved in today's fast-paced living often are not seated at tables which provide horizontal surfaces on which to set their filled containers and/or food-holders. Instead, they are in situations in which no tabletop or the like is available and find themselves standing, driving, or engaged in activities in which it is helpful or required to have at least one hand free for some purpose.

[0004] For example, fast-food restaurants, particularly those having a “drive-through” capability, usually serve a typical customer's selection of one to three solid food items (e.g., hamburgers or other sandwiches, French fries, onion rings, tacos, pieces of pie) along with a selected beverage (e.g., milkshakes, carbonated beverages, fruit juice or coffee). Sometimes the vehicle driver, particularly if he or. she is alone, may find it necessary to hold both the food and the beverage with one hand, while keeping the other hand free for steering and/or other vehicle operations.

[0005] Another example is the widely used practice at many parties and social functions of serving each guest one or more food items on a plate along with a hot or cold beverage in a cup (or the like). If a table or other horizontal support surface is unavailable, the guest may try using the hand that is holding the beverage container to move food from the plate to his or her mouth. Or, the guest sometimes attempts to balance the beverage container on the plate in order to free one hand for eating or some other purpose, such as opening a door or shaking hands with another person. Such practices often tend to be awkward, and can frequently result in spillage and other undesirable consequences. The same sort of problem is frequently encountered at sporting events and other entertainment events where people consume refreshments with no table nearby, regardless of whether the people may be standing or sitting while eating.

[0006] The prior art includes many typically disposable dishware and/or cup-plate combinations. However, prior devices fail to adequately solve the continuing problems faced by persons consuming meals “on the go.” A number of specific disadvantages and shortcomings characterize the prior art, as will be seen by reference to various prior United States patents.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,820 (Boerner),discloses a plate or tray which interfaces with a centrally-located beverage container via downward extensions from the tray which are either rigid or foldable and which extend along the beverage container. A person using the Boerner device grasps the extension(s) and the container simultaneously. This combination must be gripped in order to remain engaged, and it must be separated in order to drink.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,737 (Patterson et al.) discloses plate-and-glass assembly that allows a person to carry a plate and a centrally-located drinking glass in one hand. The plates and glasses are engaged by what might be referred to as rail, tab or wedge system on the underside of the plate that allows a beverage container to be slidable or twistable received to centrally support the plate. The combination, must be disengaged for drinking purposes, requires customized beverage containers with mating lugs—to engage lugs on the undersides of the plates. This combination is a complex and impractical device.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,283 (Patterson et al.) discloses another plate-and-glass assembly that allows a person to carry a plate and a centrally-located drinking glass in one hand. The plate has a U-shaped channel on it and the glass (beverage container) is slidably received into engagement with the plate around a portion of the container. This patent includes a drinking straw port, and uses a straw as a means to prevent unintended disengagement of the combination. This device does not allow for a complete seal of the container. Furthermore, it is impractical and uneconomical to manufacture at least in that it requires “a holder fabricated as a separate component and subsequently attached to a plate.”

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,028 (Patterson et al.) discloses a number of complex plate-and-glass assemblies that allow a person to carry a plate and a centrally-located drinking glass in one hand. The plates and glasses are engaged by what might be referred to as rail, tab or wedge systems on the undersides of the plates which allow beverage containers (e.g., beverage cans) to be slidably or twistable received to centrally support the plate. This patent includes a drinking straw port. These devices are complex multi-part devices that are impractical to manufacture and use.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,373 (McKee) discloses a plate that interfaces with a beverage container utilizing a press-fit V-type friction-engagement groove. The plate has a centrally-located upwardly-extending annulus which forms (1) the V-groove on the underside of the plate for frictional engagement with the container lip and (2) a female receptacle on the top of the plate within which to place the bottom of the cup (on top of the plate) or an ashtray. The plate has a central hole to receive a straw. When the container is engaged beneath the plate, the lack of a positive engagement may be problematic, particularly when substantial non-distributed loads are placed on edge portions of the plate. As with certain other prior art, the plate has no means for reinforcement to resist excessive flexing under non-distributed loads.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,743 (Costarella) discloses a plate that interfaces with the beverage cup through a hole in the plate for the beverage cup to rest. Costarella requires the consumer to support the plate and the contents from the bottom of the plate corresponding to the bottom of the beverage cup. The main issue related to this disclosure is that as the beverage cup is increased in size, the ability to support the meal holder combination will create severe limitations. This invention introduces the possibility of meal holder tipping as the consumer supports the contents above their hand. Costarella also requires the cup hole not to extend below the flat surface limiting the area of support and utility for the Costarella invention.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,164 (Beck) discloses a plate cup combination tray where the beverage cup fits within a contained pocket. The Beck invention discloses a slot for use with a cup handle. The Beck invention does not allow the beverage container to be gripped with the plate. This is similar in concept to U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,700 (Dumke) who includes a hole for the beverage container to fit within however requires the consumer to hold the plate in order to support the meal. holder combination. This limitation is overcome through the invention disclosed herein.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,274 (Bouton) discloses a portable tray table that has extending legs to support the upper food bearing surface. The requirement of extending legs minimizes the ability to grip the beverage container and significantly increases the size of the overall profile of the meal holder. This invention would limits its utility in stadiums where space is very limited.

[0015] Mobile-dining meal holders used in various situations are susceptible to substantial downward loading forces, both from the weight of foodstuffs thereon and from movements that occur during dining. There is a need for an improved mobile-dining meal holder which is of a light weight favoring disposability but which (a) still functions to provide support against such downward loading forces, (b) has excellent detachable sealing engagement to avoid risks of beverage spilling, and (c) instills excellent user confidence with its support and containment functions during usage, even though held by only one hand. The following objects of the invention are indicative of various problems and shortcomings in the prior art.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] It is an object of this invention to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder and meal holder plate overcoming problems and shortcomings of the prior art.

[0017] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder having a detachably-secured plate and beverage container which are held in firm engagement together so that, even when the sole support for the meal holder is by the user's grasp of the beverage container, solid foodstuffs may be reliably and confidently supported on the plate as dining continues.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder plate that is of one-piece construction and is easily manufactured and yet provides all of the above-mentioned advantages in detachable engagement with a beverage container.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder plate that, although made of an inexpensive thermoformed plastic piece, resists excessive flexing despite substantial vertical loads thereon from foodstuffs and from dining movements.

[0020] Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder having a plate with a lid portion particularly suited to resist unintended disengagement of the beverage container and plate.

[0021] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder with the above-noted advantages and which is formed to accommodate foodstuffs and servings of characteristic shapes and sizes for easy serving presentation and for convenient control during mobile dining.

[0022] Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder with the above-noted advantages and which further serves to shield and maintain the heat of hot food served thereon.

[0023] Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder allowing convenient control of solid foodstuffs and simultaneous easy consumption of a beverage with minimal manual involvement.

[0024] Another object is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder having advantages as described above and further providing such advantages in a meal holder that accommodates beverage containers of varying selected sizes.

[0025] Another object is to provide an improved mobile-dining meal holder that allows the beverage container to be removed from the top of the meal holder so that the beverage may be consumed from the beverage container while the meal holder is supported at the tapered interfacing position. To unite the two again, the beverage container simply is positioned within the top of the mobile meal holder to the point where the taper on the meal holder and beverage container coincide.

[0026] It is a further object to provide an interfacing transition on the beverage container to provide a stop for the meal holder.

[0027] These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0028] This invention is an improved mobile-dining meal holder that overcomes a number of significant disadvantages, shortcomings and problems of meal holders of the prior art, and is a highly convenient tool usable, for example, by the fast-food industry and by people who are dining “on the go.” This inventive meal holder has two principal parts—a beverage container and a plate—that are detachably-combined. The invention also involves the plate for such combination.

[0029] More specifically, the mobile-dining meal holder of this invention includes a beverage cup (or “container”) which has a taper on the outer surface of the beverage container terminating at a flat or edge approximately ⅓ of the distance of the height of the beverage cup from the opening, and a plate of particular configuration for beverage cup hole interfacing with the taper of the beverage cup and terminating at a flat surface on the top of the plate. The plate includes (a) a circular and horizontal lid portion and (b) a tray portion extending outwardly from the lid portion and having horizontally-arranged food-holding areas spaced about the lid portion.

[0030] In highly preferred embodiments, the tray portion of the plate extends outwardly from the lower edge of the skirt. Most preferably, the tray portion is integral with the lower edge of the skirt of the lid portion and the lid portion and tray portion are a single integral piece.

[0031] The tray portion of the plate of the mobile-dining meal holder of this invention preferably includes at least one food-receiving depressed region formed therein, and most preferably a plurality of food-receiving depressed regions spaced about the lid portion. The food-receiving depressed regions can be specifically shaped to easily receive and hold specific foods.

[0032] In highly preferred embodiments, the tray portion, by virtue of the one or more depressed regions, has vertically-extending portions positioned and arranged such that, for each of a plurality of imaginary horizontal pivot lines across the tray portion, at least one of the vertically-extending portions is transverse to the pivot line, thereby providing reinforcement against excessive flexing about such pivot line. The walls of the depressed regions, which of course have vertical components, typically form the vertically-extending portions.

[0033] Downward flexing/bending pressure is applied to whatever portion or portions of the tray carry food; the weight of the food imposes tends to flex or rotate the normally horizontal tray about a horizontal pivot line extending between the lid portion and the area to which the downward load is applied. The depressed region or regions is or are positioned and arranged such that at least one vertically-extending portion is transverse to such horizontal pivot line, and thereby serves to reinforce the tray portion to minimize bending of the tray portion generally around such pivot line.

[0034] Certain highly preferred embodiments of the type just described also include at least one rib formed in the tray portion, such rib or ribs being positioned and arranged on the tray portion of the plate in a manner enhancing reinforcement against excessive flexing of the tray portion about at least one of the imaginary pivot lines. The positioning and arrangement of the depressed region(s) themselves, or the positioning and arrangement of the depressed region(s) and ribbing taken together, provide important directionally-focused reinforcement for the purpose of making the mobile-dining meal holder of this invention function properly—both to support the meal and to accommodate miscellaneous vertical loading forces imposed on the tray portion during normal dining movements of the user. These important features allow the plate to be thinner than would otherwise be the case.

[0035] In certain embodiments, a separate removable dome is placed over a particular depressed region. The dome has a dome edge portion for placement on the tray portion about the depressed region, and the depressed region has vertically-extending surfaces thereabout which are positioned to engage the dome edge portion in order to keep the dome in vertical alignment over-the depressed region.

[0036] In certain preferred embodiments having a food-receiving depressed region, the depressed region has a specified depth based upon a selected foodstuff serving or portion to be received in it. The depressed region is formed to receive a serving that is particular in size or in size and shape. In certain of these embodiments, the depressed region has a boundary and includes at least one finger-access portion at the boundary that has a depth less than the specified depth. This facilitates pick-up of a food item in such depressed region.

[0037] In some preferred embodiments, a depressed region has an opening through it that serves to provide flexibility for positioning certain foodstuffs which, by virtue of their shapes (typically elongate shapes), may need to extend through and below the tray portion in order to be properly held by the tray portion. In such cases, one portion of the foodstuff is held in the depressed region and another portion extends below the tray portion. Examples of such foodstuffs are lollipops and bananas. Also, an opening within a depressed region may be utilized to accommodate a wrapping for a food item.

[0038] In certain preferred embodiments, the tray portion of the plate has an outer edge and a vertically-extending edge portion formed along the outer edge. This itself provides some reinforcement against excessive flexing of the tray portion under loads imposed thereon. The most preferred embodiments will have both a vertically-extending edge portion and a plurality of food-receiving depressed regions configured and arranged to provide the aforementioned reinforcement against excessive flexing.

[0039] In certain preferred embodiments of this invention, the outer edge of the tray portion includes a near edge and a far edge and the lid portion, rather than being centrally located on the tray portion, is located adjacent to the near edge. This arrangement enables the user to hold the beverage and food close to his or her body to facilitate drinking and eating, and this advantage is particularly achieved when the near edge is substantially straight.

[0040] This invention also involves the improved meal holder plate as described above, which forms the major structure of the improved meal holder.

[0041] This invention provides a significant change and dramatic improvement in the manner in which “fast-food” meals are presented to people “on the go,” including, for example, people who purchase “fast-food” meals using drive-through facilities. The invention provides an easy and convenient way to dine in those situations in which a tabletop (to support plates and other dishes) is unavailable.

[0042] The two principal parts of the mobile-dining meal holder of this invention are firmly engaged to one another so that, even though support of the meal holder is solely by the user's grasp of the beverage container, foodstuffs are reliably and confidently supported on the plate during dining. The plate of this invention, even when made of a thin thermoformed plastic piece, as is preferred, serves to resist excessive flexing despite substantial vertical loads thereon from foodstuffs and from dining movements.

[0043] The plurality of food-receiving depressed regions in the plates of preferred embodiments are not only formed to accommodate a variety of specific solid foods and types of foods, but they are configured and arranged to provide reinforcement against the excessive flexing (or collapse) which would otherwise be caused by such foods and by typical movements during eating. Specific forms of such plates may readily accommodate, e.g., a burger, French fries and condiments (ketchup) or a variety of alternatives; other forms can accommodate, e.g., nachos and cheese. Virtually endless varieties are possible to provide mobile-dining meal holders which readily accommodate the needs of nearly any prepared food retailer and its customers.

[0044] As used herein, the term “mobile-dining,” in describing a meal holder, refers to the ability to be carried easily in one hand by a person who is eating a meal without sitting down at a table. Of course, the mobile-dining meal holder of this invention may be used in other ways as well.

[0045] The use of directional terms like “lower,” “horizontally-arranged” and “vertically-extending” refer to the mobile-dining meal holder or its principal parts in their normal usage orientations—i.e., with the beverage container in an upright position. The term “vertically-extending,” used in describing portions of the tray portion of the plate, refers to the fact that there is a change in the vertical position; the term does not require that the portion in question itself be oriented at 90 degree to a horizontal plane. The term “outwardly” as used in referring to the relationship of the tray portion of the plate to the beverage holder portion of the plate refers to an extension from the lid portion in a generally horizontal direction.

[0046] The term “annular” as used herein refers to a ring-like or encircling quality, but does not require continuity. Likewise, terms such as “therearound” and “thereabout” require existence all around something, even if not in continuous form.

[0047] The term “integral” used in describing the relationship of one portion of the plate to another means that the portions are not just joined to one another, but are formed together, such as in a thermoforming or other plastic fabrication process.

[0048] The term “imaginary horizontal pivot lines” refers to a mathematical line; it is imaginary only in the sense that it does not involve any visible indication. The term “transverse,” of course, means across or at an angle to something, but not necessarily at an angle of 90 degree.

[0049] The terms “near edge” and “far edge,” used in reference to portions of the outer edge of the plate, refer to the edges which are, respectively, closest to and farthest from the body of the user during dining.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred mobile-dining meal holder in accordance with this invention.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the device FIG. 1 with the beverage container removed.

[0053] FIG. 4a is an exploded front elevation of the device of FIG. 1 showing food stuffs to be loaded thereon.

[0054] FIG. 4b is the fully assembled mobile dining meal holder of FIG. 4a.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plate of another embodiment of this invention including a removable dome covering one of its food-receiving depressed regions, a portion of such figure being broken away.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 5 with the dome removed.

[0057] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of this invention.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 7.

[0059] FIG. 9 is a side view of one configuration of the cup interface embodiment.

[0060] FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of the cup interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0061] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a mobile-dining meal holder 20 for use by fast-food restaurants, entertainment and sporting-event food vendors and the like where meals involving certain solid foodstuffs and a beverage are typically served to customers who will not be eating at tables. FIG. 4a, an exploded view, shows the principal parts of meal holder 20—that is, plate 22 and beverage cup 24, and also shows a straw 26, beverage cup lid 45, a cardboard packet 28 containing French fries, and a wrapped hamburger 30, each in position adjacent to where they will be received by plate 22. FIG. 4b illustrates meal holder 20 in the fully assembled configuration. In the fully assembled configuration, the handhold region 9 of the plate 22 provides support for the entire arrangement. As illustrated in FIG. 4a, the beverage container can be removed from the plate while the plate is still supported by the consumer. Therefore, it may be advantageous to drink from the beverage container without a cup lid or straw. This arrangement provides flexibility.

[0062] Beverage cup 24 has a lip 32 with an annular bead 34 along it. Beverage cup 24 has a circular flange 36 approximately ⅓ of the overall height of the cup from the rim of the container. Beaded beverage cup 24 may be made of plastic materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene or other plastics, using well-known forming methods—e.g., injection molding.

[0063] Plate 22 includes a cup interface 38 and a tray portion 40 which are integrally formed of plastic, such as by thermoforming as hereafter discussed. Lid portion 38 is circular and horizontal and overlies flange 36 of beverage cup 24. Tray portion 40 extends outwardly from cup interface 38 and has horizontally-arranged food-holding areas 41, 42, 43 and 44 which are spaced about cup interface 38. The handhold region 9 of the plate 22 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0064] Each of food-holding areas 41-44 is a food-receiving depressed region formed in tray portion 40 of plate 22. Food-receiving depressed region 41 is formed to accommodate a hamburger or other sandwich, and may receive such foodstuff free of any other covering or packaging, or in a sandwich wrapping (e.g., of light paper or plastic) as illustrated by numeral 30 in FIG. 4a, or in a formed container designed for insertion into depressed region 41. Food-receiving depressed region 42 is formed to accommodate another solid foodstuff such as the packet of French fries illustrated in FIG. 4a. Of course, the French fries or other solid food may be placed in depressed region 42 without any packet or other packaging. Food-receiving depressed regions 43 and 44 are formed to receive condiments or other small servings of solid foods, such as ketchup, ketchup packets, candies or cookies. All of the food-receiving depressed regions can be specifically shaped to easily receive and hold specific foods. FIG. 4b illustrates the handhold region 9 of the plate 22. FIG.4a further illustrates diameters D2a and D2b on the plate 22. The D2a diameter is larger than the D2b diameter forming taper region 15 in plate 22. Beverage cup 24 is shown in FIG. 4a with cup removal region 19 at the top portion of the beverage cup 24. The cup removal region 19 is further illustrated with diameter D1 that is larger that D2a. The transition in beverage cup 24 between D2a and D1 is shown with an abrupt change creating a ledge or shelf 36 that the plate 22 rests against.

[0065] Each of food-receiving depressed regions 41-44 has a plurality of vertically-extending portions (or surfaces) 52—the very surfaces which form the depressions. food-receiving depressed regions 41-44, and their vertically-extending portions 52 are positioned and arranged to provide important reinforcement of tray portion 40. As illustrated best in FIG. 2, vertically-extending portions 52 are positioned and arranged such that, for a plurality of imaginary horizontal pivot lines such as phantom lines Q, R, S and T which extend across tray portion 40 in positions adjacent to cup interface 38, at least one of vertically-extending portions 52 transverse to each such pivot line. This, as earlier noted, provides important reinforcement against excessive flexing about such pivot lines.

[0066] Each food-receiving depressed region has a specified depth based on a selected foodstuff serving or portion intended to be received in it, and is formed to receive a serving of a particular size and/or shape. Depressed regions 43 and 44 have boundaries 54, and at its boundary 54 each of depressed regions 43 and 44 includes a pair of finger-access portions 56 With a depth which is less than the depth of the depressed region. Finger-access portions 56 facilitate the pick-up of a food item in the depressed region.

[0067] As seen best in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, tray portion 40 has an outer edge 58 and vertically-extending edge portion 60 formed along outer edge 58. Vertically-extending edge portion 60 serves to provide reinforcement against excessive flexing of tray portion 40 under loads, as previously described.

[0068] Outer edge 58 of tray portion 40 includes a straight near edge 59 and an opposite far edge (unnumbered), with cup interface 38 being located adjacent to near edge 59. These factors better enable the user to hold the beverage and food close by to facilitate drinking and eating.

[0069] Plate 22 is preferably made by thermoforming of a flat sheet of plastic under appropriate temperatures and pressures, in known manner. Acceptable materials include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HMWPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (or “acrylic”) (PMMA) and polyethylene terephthalate modified with CHDM (PETG). Thermoforming of plate 22 allows close tolerances, relatively thin final average thicknesses, sharp detailing, formed-in texture, formed-in logos and custom colors. The average thickness of plate 22 is about 0.020 inch. Average thickness is preferably within the range of about 0.010-0.030 inch, and most preferably within the range of about 0.015-0.025 inch. Despite the thinness of plate 22, its tray portion 40 can function well without excessive flexing due to the above-mentioned vertically-extending portions 52 and vertically-extending edge portion 60. Specific dimensions and design will depend on the specific intended usage.

[0070] FIG. 5 illustrates a mobile-dining meal holder 70 which is another embodiment of this invention—one that is useful, e.g., for nachos and cheese. In these figures, in many cases the same numerals as are used in FIGS. 1-4, together with the following letter “a,” are used to identify parts, features and portions which are essentially the same as corresponding parts, features and portions of meal holder 20 of FIGS. 1-4.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, meal holder 70 has a plate 22a with a cup interface 38a and a tray portion 40a. Tray portion 40a has three food-receiving depressed regions (or “food-holding areas”) 72, 73 and 74. Depressed region 72 is arcuate and fairly large, and can be used to contain nacho chips, while depressed regions 73 and 74 can be used, for example, for thick cheese dip and cookies, respectively, or other foodstuffs. Food-receiving depressed regions 72, 73 and 74 are configured and arranged so that their vertically-extending portions 52a are positioned to provide reinforcement of plate 22a against excessive flexing about a plurality of pivot lines (not shown). Gussets of vertical ribs 3 provide structure to the handhold region 9 of plate 22a. Plate 22a will support not only the foodstuff on the mobile dining meal holder but also the beverage container. The weight of these items may require strengthening of the handhold grip region 9 of plate 22a with gussets or ribs 3. Ribs 3 are shown as a series of vertical ribs in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, horizontal ribs or steps or a combination of vertical and horizontal ribs may be required depending on the amount of lading the handhold grip region 9 will experience.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 5, depressed region 73 has a separate removable dome 76 over it, and serves to maintain the desired non-ambient temperature of food contained in depressed region 73, and to protect such food. For example, if hot cheese dip is in depressed region 73, it will retain its heat longer by virtue of the presence of dome 76. As seen in FIG. 5, dome 76 has a dome edge portion 78 for placement on the tray portion about depressed region 73. As seen best in FIG. 6, depressed region 73 has vertically-extending surfaces 80 thereabout which are positioned to engage dome edge portion 78 in order to keep removable dome 76 in vertical alignment over depressed region 73.

[0073] As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, food-receiving depressed region 74 has an opening 82 through it at the bottom thereof. This can serve to facilitate reception of certain foodstuffs or packaged foodstuffs by allowing a part thereof to extend through opening 82 to a position below plate 22a.

[0074] FIGS. 7-8 show a plate 22b of still another mobile-dining meal holder 90 in accordance with this invention. In these figures, when numerals similar to those in other figures are used they are followed by the letter “b.”

[0075] Plate 22b of meal holder 90 has three food-receiving depressed regions 92, 93 and 94 in its tray portion 40b which are configured and arranged such that their vertically-extending portions 52b are positioned to provide reinforcement of plate 22b against excessive flexing about plural pivot lines, such as horizontal lines U and V. Flexing is also resisted by the vertically-extending edge portions 60b of the outer edge 58b. In addition, extending between depressed regions 92 and 93 is a series of ribs 96 which are positioned and arranged on the tray portion 40b of plate 22b in a manner enhancing reinforcement against excessive flexing about lines U and V.

[0076] FIG. 9 illustrates one configuration of the beverage cup 24 and plate 22c. Beverage cup 24 is shown with diameters D3-D5. Diameter D5 is smaller than D4 which is smaller than D3. The changes in diameters form taper 16. Plate 22c is illustrated with handhold region 9 having diameters D5a and D4a where D4a is smaller than D5a in similar proportions to diameters D4 and D5 of beverage cup 24. The changes in diameters D5a and D4a form taper 16a. When beverage cup 24 is placed with plate 22c, the changes in diameters of the taper regions form an interface that prevent the plate 22c from going up to diameter D3 on beverage cup 24. As beverage cup 24 is placed within plate 22c, the bottom portion of beverage cup 24 goes through hole 4 of plate 22c. FIG. 9 shows the height of the handhold region of plate 22c taller than any of the food receiving wells. In such configurations, plate 22c may rest upon a flat surface such as a table top when a beverage container is not desired to be used in conjunction with the plate. This is only possible when diameter D5a is large enough to support the food contents of plate 22d. Not shown in FIG. 9 is the option of including an undercut around the diameter near the top of plate 22c that snaps over a corresponding bead or rim in beverage cup 24 at the interface location. This snap feature provides some resistance for removing plate 22c from beverage cup 24. This may be desirable for times when the beverage cup is placed on the table. The plate would remain in the same interfaced location while the cup is standing on the tabletop. This would also be advantageous for situations such as placing the mobile dining meal holder in a cup holder such as in an automobile.

[0077] The bottom opening 4 of plate 22c will require a cutting process to remove material in that area for forming processes such as thermoforming. In such cases, a sharp edge at bottom opening 4 is not advantageous to the consumer. People skilled in the art of thermoforming may form a rounded edge in this location to prevent a sharp edge.

[0078] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the interface between the beverage cup and the plate. Beverage cup 24d is shown with diameters D6-D7. Diameter D7 is smaller than D6. The changes in diameters form a shelf or ledge 12. Plate 22d is illustrated with handhold region 9 having diameter D7. This diameter extends from the bottom opening 7 of plate 22d to the top opening 8 and is smaller than diameter D6. Diameters 7a and 7b are illustrated in FIG. 10. Most manufacturing processes require some draft or taper on the vertical walls of the mold to allow the parts to be readily removed from the tooling. This taper may exist in either the cup or plate or both. Flat surface 5 surrounds top opening 8 of plate 22d. When beverage cup 24d is placed within plate 22d, the changes in diameters D6 and D7 of beverage cup 24d provide a stop for plate 22d with respect to beverage cup 24d. FIG. 10 shows that the height of the handhold region 9 of plate 22d is taller than any of the food receiving wells. In such configurations, plate 22d may rest upon a flat surface such as a table top when a beverage container is not desired to be used in conjunction with the plate. This is only possible when diameter D7 is large enough to support the food contents of plate 22d. Not shown in FIG. 10 is the option of including an undercut around the diameter near the top of plate 22d that snaps over a corresponding bead or rim in beverage cup 24d at the interface location. This snap feature provides some resistance for removing plate 22d from beverage cup 24d. This may be desirable for times when the beverage cup is placed on the table. The plate would remain in the same interfaced location while the cup is standing on the tabletop. This would also be advantageous for situations such as placing the mobile dining meal holder in a cup holder such as in an automobile.

[0079] The plates of the mobile-dining meal holders of this invention are, as already indicated, preferably formed by well-known thermoforming methods. However, other known fabrication methods, such as injection molding, can be used in the manufacture of plates in accordance with this invention. Variations in forming straight sections and tapers within the beverage cup and plates are well known within the industry. The ability to trap the plate at a certain location on the beverage cup is by a taper or flat or combination is in accordance with this invention.

[0080] The preferred thermoforming is best facilitated by appropriate design of the plate, taking into account the depths of necessary draws, the angles of the aforementioned vertically extending surfaces (which are preferably tapered for ease of thermoforming), and other factors. It is also helpful to design the plate in a manner preventing excessive nesting in a stack of identical plates. Anti-nesting features and characteristics can include the tapers that are utilized in the particular designs. Suitable features and characteristics to avoid excessive nesting are known in the thermoforming art.

[0081] While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. In a mobile-dining meal holder having a beverage container and a plate detachably combined, the improvement wherein:

the beverage container has a cup interface portion thereabout that is below the top portion of the beverage container, where the interface portion represents a stopping position for the plate;

the plate includes (a) a substantially circular and horizontal portion that stops at a specified location along the beverage container below the opening of the beverage container, (b) a tray portion extending outwardly from the cup interface portion and having horizontally-arranged food-holding areas spaced about the lid portion, (c) a handhold position integrally placed into the plate that supports the beverage container as well as the plate where the hand hold position is relatively the same geometry as the beverage container.

2. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 1 wherein the cup interface portion represents a taper transition on both the beverage container and the tray portion where the tray portion interfaces against a specified taper region along the beverage container.

3. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 1 wherein the cup interface portion represents two different diameters on the beverage container thereby creating a shelf or ridge that a relatively flat portion of the tray portion is supported against.

4. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 1 wherein the cup interface portion represents a variation of a tapered transition on both the beverage container and the tray portion and at least one straight section where the tray portion is supported against a shelf on the beverage container.

5. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 1 wherein the tray handhold portion has gussets or ribs, in configurations that provide support for the beverage container and contents of the plate.

6. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 1 wherein the tray portion includes at least one food-receiving depressed region formed therein.

7. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 6 wherein the tray portion, by virtue of the at least one depressed region, has vertically-extending portions positioned and arranged such that, for each of a plurality of imaginary horizontal pivot lines across the tray portion and adjacent to the lid portion, at least one of the vertically-extending portions is transverse to each pivot line, thereby providing reinforcement against flexing about each pivot line.

8. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 6 further including a separate removable dome over the at least one depressed region, the dome having a dome edge portion for placement on the tray portion about the at least one depressed region, the at least one depressed region having vertically-extending surfaces thereabout positioned to engage the dome edge portion to keep the dome in vertical alignment over the at least one depressed region.

9. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 6 wherein at least one depressed region has a specified depth based upon a selected foodstuff serving to be received therein.

10. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 9 wherein at least one depressed region has a boundary and includes at least one finger-access portion at the boundary, the finger-access portion having a depth less than the specified depth.

11. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 10 wherein at least one depressed region has an opening there through thereby to provide flexibility for positioning foodstuffs.

12. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 11 further including at least one rib formed in the tray portion and positioned and arranged thereon to enhance reinforcement against flexing about at least one of the imaginary pivot lines.

13. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 1 wherein the tray portion has an outer edge and a vertically extending edge portion formed there along, thereby to provide reinforcement against flexing of the tray portion under loads imposed by food thereon.

14. The mobile-dining meal holder of claim 13 wherein the near edge is substantially straight, thereby enabling the user to hold the beverage and food nearby to facilitate drinking and eating.

15. In a meal holder plate for detachable combination with a beverage container having a lip to form a mobile-dining meal holder, the improvement wherein the plate comprises:

(a) a substantially circular and horizontal portion that stops at a specified location along the beverage container below the opening of a beverage container, (b) a tray portion extending outwardly from the cup interface portion and having horizontally-arranged food-holding areas spaced about the lid portion, (c) a handhold position integrally placed into the plate that supports the beverage container as well as the plate where the hand hold position is relatively the same geometry as the beverage container.

16. The meal holder plate of claim 15 wherein the cup interface portion represents a taper transition on the tray portion where the tray portion interfaces against a specified taper region along the beverage container.

17. The meal holder plate of claim 15 wherein the cup interface portion represents a relatively flat portion of the tray portion that is supported against a shelf or ridge on the beverage container.

18. The meal holder plate of claim 15 wherein the cup interface portion represents a variation of a tapered transition on the tray portion and at least one straight section where the tray portion is supported against a shelf or ridge on the beverage container.

19. The meal holder plate of claim 18 wherein the tray handhold portion has gussets or ribs, in configurations that provide support for the beverage container and contents of the plate.

20. The meal holder plate of claim 18 wherein the tray handhold portion has relatively flat bottom for supporting the meal holder plate on a flat surface independent of a beverage container.