Combined plate and cupholder

Abstract

A combined plate and cupholder includes a base portion with an aperture therethrough and a cupholder that extends around the periphery of the aperture that is raised above the base portion. A collapsible cup support may be inserted into the aperture that can be collapsed into a compact shape or extended below the bottom of the based portion and locked to form a rigid structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to housewares. More particularly it relates to eating and drinking utensils. Even more particularly it relates to plates having structures configured to support or hold glasses, cups, or other drinking containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Eating utensils such as saucers, platters, dishes, and the like (called “plates” hereinbelow), that are configured to hold solid food or semi liquid food and drinking utensils or beverage containers such as cups, glasses, stemware, wine glasses, snifters, mugs, sippy cups and the like (called “cups” hereinbelow) that are configured to be taken to the lips and from which fluids can be imbibed, are usually configured as separate devices.

In certain situations, however, it is beneficial to specially configure plates and/or cups to mate with one another, thereby permitting a cup to support a plate, or a plate to support a cup. The primary benefit of this arrangement is that it frees one hand of the person. For example, if a plate and cup can be coupled together, the user can hold the plate with one hand, rely on the plate to hold the cup, and have his other hand free. As an alternative example, the user can hold the cup with one hand, rely on the cup to hold the plate, and have his other hand free.

Several special configurations of plates and cups to interact with each other or with other devices are food materials have been devised.

For example, U.S. Design Pat. 52,278 is directed to a bread and butter plate. The plate is in the form of a generally shallow pan having a raised bottom defining a rim that extends upward from the bottom of the pan to provide a separate, smaller pan region for receiving butter and keeping the butter from sliding across the bottom of the pan into the adjacent portion of the bottom which presumably contains bread.

U.S. Design Pat. 298,296 is directed to a combined tray and cupholder generally similar to the device of the '278 patent but having a lenticular shape that is pointed at each end. This embodiment has a flat planar tray with an upwardly extending rim from which an edge extends laterally. A second planar tray is separated from this first planar tray by an upstanding rim or edge that extends from one side of the tray portion to the other and defines a separate food compartment. This separate portion of the planar tray is not at the same height as (i.e. is not coplanar with) the bottom of the planar tray. The second planar tray is disposed above the first planar tray and does not rest upon a flat surface (i.e. a tabletop) when the combined tray and cupholder is used. This second planar tray of the combined tray and cupholder is presumably the cupholder portion, and is generally circular. By providing a portion of the tray for receiving a cup that is actually raised above the surface of the table when the tray is resting on the table, the combined tray and cupholder is inherently unstable and prone to tip.

U.S. Design Pat. 368,627 is directed to a portable food tray with cupholder. The construction of this device is similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 298,296 in that it has two planar regions that are separated by a rim. In this case, however, the rim that separates the planar tray cupholder portion from the planar tray plate portion is raised considerably above the surface of the rest of the plate. As with the '296 patent, the planar plate portion of the device is surrounded by a rim. This rim, however, is only half as high as the rim completely surrounding the cupholder portion. This configuration doubles the height of the portable food tray with cupholder itself as compared to the height without the extended rim, and therefore makes the food tray take up much more space in storage.

U.S. Design Pat. 373,052 is directed to a cocktail dish. It has a generally elliptical shape in plan view with one end of the ellipse notched out in a keyhole shape. Nonetheless, the notched-out keyhole shape is surrounded by a circular raised lip, somewhat similar to that of the preceding patents, but having a conical bottom that is concentric with a circular portion of the skeleton keyhole shape.

U.S. Design Pat. 373,933 is directed to a plate having features somewhat similar to the foregoing patents, but with several differences. The overall shape of the device is elliptical in plan view, and instead of having one end of the ellipse formed into either a cupholder or a notched keyhole shape, a side portion of the plate along the minor axis of the ellipse is provided with a notched keyhole shape together with two flanking elliptical holes, one hole on either side of the notched keyhole shape. Instead of having a single large tray portion that is surrounded by a peripheral rim, the tray portion is divided into three separate food compartments, each food compartment being separated from its adjacent food compartment by a rim or wall that is raised above the bottom of the plate.

U.S. Design Pat. 376,297 is directed to a food and beverage tray. The device is in the form of an elongated sheet having three depressions. A central circular depression forms a flat bottomed tray with a conical tapering sidewall. A circular notched depression at one end of the tray extends three times as deep as the central depression, and has a conical tapering sidewall and a flange that extends inwardly from the bottom of the conical sidewall. A notch is provided that extends through the conical sidewall. A third elongated pyramidal depression, deeper than both the central depression and the circular notched depression is provided at the other end of the food and beverage tray. The pyramidal depression is missing one wall, having only three downwardly and inwardly tapering sidewalls and a flat bottom.

U.S. Design Pat. 389,020 is directed to a beverage/food holder that has a generally circular shape in plan view. The holder is in the form of the generally planar tray portion having a conical upwardly extending rim with a planar flange extending outward from an upper portion thereof. A tall cylindrical cup-shaped portion is fixed to the generally planar tray portion and extends downward below the generally planar tray portion to a depth over five times as great as the upwardly extending rim extends above the planar tray portion. The cup-shaped portion is a frustum of a cone and has a flat bottom.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,470 is directed to a serving tray with integral cupholder. In plan view the tray is generally rectangular with rounded corners. The tray includes a flat panel surrounded by a peripheral rim that extends upward therefrom. A cup holding well is provided at one corner of the tray and is raised substantially above the level of both the flat panel and the top of the raised rim. The cup holding well is generally conical.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,672 is directed to a plate assembly. The plate assembly is circular in plan view and comprises a body and a cup support member integrally formed with the body. The body includes a wrist-receiving channel that extends upward from the bottom of the plate from the cup support member on one side of the plate assembly to the diametric opposite side of the plate assembly. This channel is configured to receive the forearm of the user to support the weight of the plate assembly on the forearm of the user as the user grasps a separate cup that is inserted through the cup support member. The cup support member (in FIG. 2 of the '672 patent) is shown as a circular wall raised above the bottom of the plate portion with a central hole. The hole is defined by a sidewall, and the sidewall is a frustum of the cone that terminates at the same level as the bottom of the body. Thus, when the plate assembly rests on a flat planar surface, such as a table top, the bottom of the cup support member and the bottom of the body itself will both rest upon the surface of the table and both be simultaneously supported.

FIG. 3 of the '672 patent shows an alternative embodiment of a cup support member. In this embodiment the cup support member is preferably comprised of several collapsible sections which are telescopically inter-fitted. The sections are preferably frustum shaped and are provided with flanges. The flanges function to support the individual sections when the cup support member is telescopically extended. The upper section of the cup support member protrudes into the channel that is configured to support the user's forearm. Each of the movable collapsible section has the same overall height as the overall height of the plate assembly itself. The plate is made of plastic or paper.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,685 is directed to a device for supporting a drinking container with respect to a plate. This device in plan view is generally shaped as a rounded rectangular tray having an upwardly extending flange with a recess. This recess is configured to receive a part of the drinking container such that the container abuts and is supported by the wall of the recess and does not tend to slide out from the recess when the plate is tilted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,125 is directed to a food plate with beverage container holder. The food plate has a generally flat bottom with an upraised ridge formed about an opening in the bottom of the plate. This opening is configured to accommodate stemware style containers. An alternative opening is provided in the plate that is large enough to receive a beverage container with a frustum-shaped sidewall. Alternatively, a straight-walled container with a generally planar and outwardly extending flange can be provided to rest inside the alternative opening with the container supported by the flange.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,700 is directed to an inter-fitting plate and cup. The plate is generally circular in plan view, having a flat bottom portion with an upwardly extending sidewall and a planar outwardly extending flange coupled thereto. The flat bottom portion has a circular hole in the center of the plate that is flush with the bottom and is not surrounded by a raised edge or lip. In an alternative configuration, the circular hole in the center of the plate is surrounded by an upstanding lip that is integrally joined to the plate central section. The lip is preferably formed as parallel frustoconical surfaces having a free edge and an apex that is located on the top side of the plate generally parallel to the outwardly extending flange. The free edge of the lip defines the opening which is sized to accept and hold a conventional tapered beverage container. The plate may be manufactured from a variety of materials such as paper and plastic.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,455 is directed to a plate for use with stemware. The plate includes a center portion and an outer periphery with a notch therethrough that is connected to an aperture that passes through the plate. The aperture is substantially surrounded by a rim that is coplanar with the upper edge of the outer periphery and a lower lip that is coplanar with the central portion. A base foot is under the central portion. This elevates the lip to allow a stemware foot flange to fit under the lip when the stem and plate are resting on a table surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,231 is directed to a portable food tray with cupholder. For a description, see the discussion of U.S. Design Pat. 368,627, above.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,944 is directed to a single hand use food tray, where an upper portion of the food tray is molded into a food bowl for holding the food. The food bowl includes a base wall extending away from the base and a rim positioned on an opposite side of the food bowl wall from the base. The food trays are stackable and nested one within the other to save space. Further, the hand grip provides on its inside surface a molded contour for a cup. The trays may be made of plastic, paper, or metal.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,240 is directed to a disposable plate with flexible handles. This device comprises a plate with two loop fasteners fixed to the bottom of the plate. The operator inserts a thumb through one fastener and a forefinger through the other fastener and rests the plate on the forefinger and thumb.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,516 is directed to a concession goods holder for attachment to a cupholder such as in the end of the stadium or theater seat armrest. The holder is in the form of a U-shaped bracket, open at the sides and top for clasping and retaining concession goods such as a popcorn bags. The holder has a laterally extending arm terminating in a step sided cupholder sized for engagement with the cupholder of the armrest. This arrangement permits the user to employ the device for holding both the drink and a bag of popcorn from the concession stand.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,853,104; 6,062,418 and 6,149,027 are directed to a combination food plate and beverage-holding article. This device comprises a generally flat compartmentalized rib-reinforced plate body having an upstanding truncated cone. The cone has an open upper end for receiving a beverage container. The cone may have a flat bottom or crossed members that define the bottom. A notch may be provided on the bottom to receive the edge of a stemware base.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,914 is directed to an hors d'oeuvres tray. The tray is for holding food and a beverage cup. The tray has an aperture and a slot continuous with the aperture and extending to the exterior of the tray for receiving the stem of a stemmed cup.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,233 is directed to a cupholder insert with snack or combo carrier. The device includes a central support member of generally circular cross-section that's made to be disposed in a cupholder of a car, boat, or other structure having a cupholder. Other cup shaped containers are formed integral with the central support member for carrying such things as snacks or “combo meals” (drink, french fries, sandwich). The cupholder insert is not in the form of a plate for resting on a flat surface, but is more generally in the shape of several cup or bowl shaped containers (food compartments) that are permanently fixed together at their rims in a side-by-side relation.

U.S. patent publication number US 2004/0099670 A1 is directed to a buffet plate. The plate has a perimeter edge and a recess formed in that edge for receiving a beverage container. The recess has a circumferential surface that receives and supports an outer surface of the beverage container. The recess is made of the material sufficiently flexible to receive and accommodate beverage containers of different diameters.

All of these prior art devices suffer from several drawbacks. Several of them provide a simple pad with a very short rim for supporting a cup, constructed much like a shallow food compartment. The cup rests upon the pad and extends upward above the surface of the plate or tray, completely unsupported. By providing only a pad for the base of the cup leaves the cup perilously unsupported and prone to fall over and spill when the plate is carried about.

Alternative designs partially solve this problem by providing a deep pocket for receiving a cup that extends downward below the bottom of the plate portion, yet has sidewalls that prevent the cup from falling over. Unfortunately, this deep pocket arrangement is so elongated that the device cannot rest evenly on a flat surface. This arrangement, however, advantageously provides the user with a rigid “handle” (that lower portion of the cup holder which extends below the bottom of the plate) around which the user can wrap his fingers to hold the plate stationary.

Another alternative design provides a rigid cupholder portion that extends upward above the surface of the plate to surround and support the sidewall of the cup, thereby providing resistance to tipping and spilling. The device rests evenly on a flat surface such as a tabletop. Unfortunately, the portion of the cupholder extending up above the surface of the plate gets in the way of the plate and the user as the user eats.

Yet another alternative design using collapsible cup holders is shown in the '672 patent. It can be collapsed flush with the bottom of the plate, permitting it to be placed on the table top for eating, and can be extended below the surface of the plate to carry a cup, thereby partially solving the problem. This arrangement has its own problems, however, since the various pieces of the '672 patent are not fixed together, and can easily be separated from the plate portion and lost. Furthermore, the individual components of the '672 patent are not fixed (e.g. wedged) together, but merely rest, one inside the other, with simple hook-like flanges that interengage. This will not prevent a top-heavy cup, e.g. those shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 herein from tilting to one side, twisting the telescopic rings with respect to each other, thereby tilting the base on which the cup rests, and spilling the cup. Thus the telescopic cup support of the '672 patent permits the cup to tip when a cup with a high center of gravity is placed in the support. Further, the arrangement is unstable. A user who grasps the lower rings of the telescopic cup holder from the bottom may be surprised to find that the plate is completely unsupported. Since the rings are not fixed to one another, the plate can flop about or rotate in circles, to slide to one side and dump the contents of the plate on the ground when carried. The plate requires additional stabilizing means, such as a channel to support the plate on the wrist or forearm of the user. This channel, however, divides the plate into multiple food compartments, thereby reducing its carrying capacity.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plate and cupholder that is configured to support a cup. It is also an object of this invention to provide a plate and cupholder that supports a cup in a collapsible cup support. It is a further object of this invention to provide a collapsible support for the plate and cupholder having at least two positions, an extended position and a collapsed position. It is a further object of this invention to provide a plate and cupholder having several interlinked constituent parts that are together rigid when the plate and cupholder is in its extended position and loosely coupled when the plate and cupholder is in its collapsed position.

Each of these objects is met by at least one of the embodiments of the device described herein and illustrated in the attached figures. Not every embodiment provides all of the objects or advantages of the invention, nor do every one of the claims described below provide all of the objects or advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention a combined plate and cupholder for holding a cup and food is provided, the combination including a plate portion for supporting foodstuffs and having an aperture therethrough to receive the cup; and a cupholder for supporting the cup, wherein the cupholder is disposed about and forms a periphery of the aperture.

The plate may include a planar plate portion and an upwardly-extending peripheral flange extending therefrom, and the cupholder may comprise an upstanding rim, the rim comprising an outer sidewall having a lower edge fixed to the aperture, a top surface fixed to the top of the outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall fixed to and extending down from the top surface inside the outer sidewall. The combined plate and cupholder may be elliptical and the aperture may be disposed at one end of the plate portion. The plate portion and the cupholder may be made of matted paper. The cupholder may have an inwardly-facing sidewall that extends downward and necks inward at a sidewall angle of between 5 and 15 degrees from vertical, and may further comprise the cup, which may be disposed within the aperture and may be supported by the inner sidewall of the rim, and the cup may have an outer sidewall that flares upwardly and outwardly at a cup wall angle of between 5 and 15 degrees from vertical.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a combined plate and cupholder is provided, including a plate having a planar base portion configured to support foodstuffs, and a rim coupled to the base portion and extending outward and upward therefrom to prevent foodstuffs from falling off the plate, the base portion having an aperture therethrough to receive and support a cup; and a cupholder disposed about the periphery of the aperture, the cupholder comprising a cupholder rim that is fixed to the base portion around the periphery of the aperture, and a locking collapsible cup support disposed in the aperture to support the bottom of the cup.

The locking collapsible cup support may also include a plurality of telescopically interengaged rings configured to lock together in frictional engagement to each other and to the cupholder rim. The plurality of rings may include at least a first ring configured to frictionally lock to the cupholder rim, and at least a second ring further comprising a base disposed to support the cup. The plurality of rings may include at least one ring disposed between and frictionally engageable to the first ring and the second ring to form a rigid telescopically extended body. The combined plate and cupholder may be made of transparent plastic and may be configured to support a transparent cup. The transparent cup may be a wine glass. One of the plurality of rings may include a means for preventing disassembly of the locking collapsible cup support. The means for preventing disassembly includes a flange that extends outwardly from one of said plurality of rings coupled to the first ring and is configured to interfere with the first ring and prevent the removal of said one of said plurality of rings from the first ring.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, a combined plate and cupholder is provide that comprises a plate including a planar base portion having a height and a rim that extends outward and upward from said base portion, wherein the rim and base portion together define a single food compartment, the plate further defining an aperture therethrough that is configured to receive and support a cup; and a cupholder disposed about the periphery of the aperture, the cupholder comprising a collapsible cup support disposed in the aperture to support the bottom of the cup.

The combined plate and cupholder may further include a rim fixed to the periphery of the aperture to which the collapsible cup support is fixed, the rim comprising an outer sidewall, a top surface, and an inner sidewall. The collapsible cup support may include a plurality of telescopic rings, and the plurality of rings may be configured to engage one with another to position a supporting base for the bottom of a cup below the height of the planar base portion. The plurality of rings may be configured to wedge together to form a rigid member generally shaped as a frustum of a cone. The collapsible cup support may permit leakage therethrough when the plurality of rings are wedged together. The supporting base may have a hole therethrough. The hole in the base may be disposed in the center of the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing a cup in phantom lines supported by the cupholder.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken at section line 3-3 in FIG. 1, in which the section line passes through the diameter of the cupholder and the center of the plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention including a plate and a cup holder, the cupholder including a separable collapsible cup support installed therein.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 showing the user grasping the collapsible cup support in its wedged-together rigid position.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-5 taken at section line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 taken at section line 6-6 in FIG. 4 and showing the individual segments of the collapsible cup support in their collapsed positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a combined plate and cupholder is shown. The plate includes a planar base portion 100 that is elliptical and is configured to rest upon a flat surface such as a table. The planar base portion 100 constitutes substantially an entire ellipse, and has a peripheral elliptical edge 102 extending completely around the entire planar base portion 100. A generally outwardly tapered sidewall 104 is coupled to the base portion 100 along edge 102. Sidewall 104 defines an entire ellipse, and extends upward from the base portion 100 between 0.5 and 1.5 inches high. Sidewall 104 is preferably disposed at an angle 105 (FIG. 3) to base portion 100 of between 20° and 75° from the horizontal. An elliptical flange 106 is coupled to the top edge 108 of sidewall 104 and extends outward therefrom. Flange 106 is planar or a shallow conical section and is spaced a constant distance apart from base portion 100.

An aperture 110 having a center 112 is disposed at and extends through one end of base portion 100. The aperture is circular. Raised rim 114 extends into the aperture in base portion 100. Rim 114 is circular, and has a top surface 116 that is preferably planar (although it may be radiused or curved) and parallel to base portion 100. Top surface 116 is preferably parallel to flange 106. It is preferably disposed midway between flange 106 and base portion 100. Rim 114 also includes a conical outer sidewall 118 that is coupled to and extends between top surface 116 and base portion 100. Conical outer sidewall 118 supports top surface 116 of rim 114 a constant distance away from base portion 100. Sidewall 118 is fixed at its bottom to an aperture in base portion 100 and extends upward, necking inwardly and defining a frustum of a cone.

Rim 114 also includes a conical inner sidewall 124 (FIG. 3). Sidewall 124 is fixed along its upper edge to top surface 116 and extends downward and necks inward therefrom, defining a frustum of a cone. This downward and inward taper matches the same downward and inward taper of a cup 126 shown in these figures in phantom lines. The cup is preferably a standard beverage drinking cup, preferably disposable, such as a beer cup, carbonated drink cup, coffee cup, or the like. It has sidewall that tapers upward and outward at a tapering angle 128 of between 5° and 15°. Whatever the value of angle 128, it is preferred that this angle remained constant over the entire extent of sidewall 124. Other angles are of course possible.

In the preferred embodiment, sidewall 124 extends downwardly from surface 116 to a level 130 flush with base portion 100. In an alternative embodiment, sidewall 124 extends only partway down from surface 116 to base portion 100, stopping at a height 132 between the level of surface 116 and the level of base portion 100.

Center 112 of aperture 110 intersects the major axis 120 of base portion 100. It is preferably located adjacent to a focus 134 of elliptical base portion 100. Center 112 of aperture 110 is spaced far enough from the outer edge 136 of the combined plate and cupholder that a portion 138 of the planar base 100 extends between and separates outwardly tapered sidewall 104 and conical sidewall 118 of rim 114.

Flange 106 is preferably planar, although it may be formed as a very shallow conical section having an outer circumferential edge 140 that is slightly higher than the inner edge 142. This conical section is characterized by angle 144 (FIG. 3) which is preferably between 0° (i.e. flange 106 is parallel to bottom portion 100) and 7° (i.e. outer edge 140 is slightly higher than inner edge 142). Flange 106 preferably has a constant width 146 (FIG. 1) over its entire elliptical extent.

The user of the combined plate and cupholder typically operates the device as follows. The operator picks up the plate at an edge 136 of the combined plate and cupholder and dishes food on to the top surface of base portion 100. The food can be solid or it can be fluid, or it can be a mixture of the two. Any fluids that gather in the bottom of base portion 100 will not be able to surmount rim 114, spill over the top and fall down through aperture 110. Once the user has filled the plate up with food, the user can then fill a cup, such as the disposable cup 126 shown in FIG. 2.

Once the cup is full, the user can, by holding the plate in one hand, place the cup into aperture 110 and release the cup, thereby transferring the weight to the combined plate and cupholder, and hence transfer the entire weight to the hand holding the combined plate and cupholder. With the weight of both the cup and the combined plate and cupholder supported by a single hand, the user can then carry both the combined plate and cupholder and cup from place to place by supporting the edge of the combined plate and cupholder. In this manner, the operator has one hand free to do such things as open doors, place additional food on the plate, shake hands, or move folding chairs.

In an alternative process, the user can first fill the plate with food. Once the plate is filled, the user can then place the combined plate and cupholder down upon a flat surface such as a picnic table. With the plate in this position, resting firmly on base portion 100 on the flat surface, the user can place cup 126 full of the user's beverage into aperture 110, again with the combined plate and cupholder resting on the flat surface. Aperture 110 and inner sidewall 124 are dimensioned such that the cup is not supported by sidewall 124, surface 116, or sidewall 118. Instead, cup 126 rests upon its base on the flat surface itself. The cup touches the inner sidewall 124 or the top surface 116 at one point around the periphery of sidewall 124 and surface 116.

Should the operator merely desire to eat her food without rising, the user can lift the cup from aperture 110 and drink from it while eating food from the combined plate and cupholder with a knife, fork, spoon or fingers. Cup 126 can be repeatedly raised to the user's mouth for drinking, then lowered and replaced in aperture 110. Once in aperture 110, it will rest not upon bottom portion 100, but upon the table or other flat planar surface upon which the combined plate and cupholder rest.

On the other hand, should the user desire to take his combined plate and cupholder and cup of beverage to another place to sit and eat, he can grasp one or both sides of the combined plate and cupholder and lift the combined plate and cupholder upward off the table or other planar surface. In this arrangement, he will thereby lift aperture 110 upwards along the outer surface of cup 126 until inner sidewall 124 engages the sidewall of cup 126 about its entire periphery. At this point, further upward motion of the combined plate and cupholder will lift cup 126 as well, with the shoulder of the cup resting firmly in sidewall 124, and a portion 152 (FIG. 2) of cup 126 extending below base portion 100.

Once the user has carried the combined plate and cupholder and cup to a new location, he can gently lower the combined plate and cupholder down toward the planar generally horizontal surface (such as a table) on which he wishes to place it. Before base portion 100 of combined plate and cupholder contacts this surface, the horizontal base 154 of cup 126 will contact the surface and the weight of cup 126 will be transferred to the surface. The operator can then continue to lower the combined plate and cupholder until the bottom of bottom portion 100 rests upon this surface.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate a second embodiment of the combined plate and cupholder in which the cupholder comprises not only a rim around an aperture 210, but a collapsible cup support as well. The plate includes a planar base portion 200 that is elliptical and is configured to rest up a flat surface such as a table. The planar base portion 200 constitutes substantially an entire ellipse, that has a peripheral elliptical edge 202 extending substantially the entire distance around the entire planar base portion 200 and terminating at a portion of the cupholder.

A generally outwardly tapered sidewall 204 is coupled to the base portion 200 along edge 202. Sidewall 204 defines substantially an entire ellipse, and extends upward from the base portion 200 between 0.5 and 1.0 inches high. Sidewall 204 terminates at the cupholder portion of the combined plate and cupholder Sidewall 204 is preferably disposed at an angle 205 to base portion 200 of between 20° and 75°. An elliptical flange 206 is coupled to the top edge 208 of sidewall 204 and extends outward therefrom. Flange 206 is planar and is spaced a constant distance away from base portion 200. Flange 206 is preferably parallel to base portion 200 and is preferably spaced a constant distance of between 0.5 and 1.0 inches away from base portion 200.

A circular hole or aperture 210 is disposed at and extends through one end 212 of base portion 200. This hole is surrounded by a raised rim 214. Rim 214 is circular, and has a top surface 216 that is planar and parallel to base portion 200. Top surface 216 is also parallel to and coplanar with flange 206.

Top surface 216 of rim 214 preferably merges with the top surface of elliptical flange 206 to form together a continuous planar surface 218 having an inner loop 220 that extends around aperture 210 and an outer loop 222 that extends around the periphery of base portion 200.

Rim 214 also includes a conical outer sidewall 224 that is coupled to and extends between rim portion 214 and base portion 200 to which it is fixed. Conical sidewall 224 supports top surface 216 of rim 214. Conical sidewall 224 does not extend completely around aperture 210, however. Instead, it merges with sidewall 204 to together form a continuously curved sidewall that extends around the entire periphery of base portion 200.

Aperture 210 of the combined cup and plate holder also includes a conical inner sidewall 226. Sidewall 226 is fixed along its upper edge to top surface 216 of rim 214 and extends downward and necks inward therefrom, defining a frustum of a cone. The taper of inner sidewall 226 is preferably the same as the taper of the inner sidewall 124 identified for the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, and likewise matches the upward and outward taper of cup 126.

In one embodiment, sidewall 226 extends downwardly from surface 216 to the level of base portion 200. In a preferred embodiment, shown here, sidewall 226 extends only partway down from surface 216 to base portion 200, stopping at a height between the level of surface 216 and the level of base portion 210 to accommodate the thickness of the base 242 of the collapsible cup support (discussed below) and to permit the base portion 200 and the base of the collapsible cup support to both rest flat upon a flat planar surface 228.

Flange 206 is preferably planar, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, although it may alternatively be formed as a very shallow conical section—a frustum of a cone—having an outer circumferential edge 230 that is slightly higher than the inner edge 232. As in the example of FIGS. 1-3, the angle of flange 206 with respect to horizontal would be less than 7°. Flange 206 preferably has a constant width over its entire length until it joins together with top surface 216 to jointly form planar surface 218.

The combined plate and cupholder of FIGS. 4-7 includes a collapsible cup support 234 that is fitted into and mechanically engages the inner side wall 226 of rim 214. Collapsible cup support 234 is formed a plurality of interconnected rings 236, 238, and 240. Each of these rings is shaped as the frustum of a cone and all are telescopically interengaged one with the other. Each ring is formed of a thin wall having a preferred height of between 0.5 and 1.2 inches and a thickness of between 0.02 and 0.12 inches. The smallest inner diameter of each ring is preferably between 2.0 and 4.0 inches. Whatever the height of each ring, it is preferably constant over the entire circumference of the ring.

The bottom-most ring (ring 240 herein) is preferably fixed to a circular base 242 that extends completely across the opening defined by the bottom edge of ring 240, completely enclosing it. In an alternative embodiment, base 242 may have a circular aperture extending therethrough that is generally concentric with the longitudinal axis of ring 240.

When extended, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the upper outer surface of each ring engages the lower inner surface of an adjacent, and slightly larger ring (or inner sidewall 226) in which the ring is fitted. Thus, each ring is both supported by a higher ring and supports a lower ring. The topmost ring (ring 236) is not supported by a superior ring, but by inner sidewall 226, which is formed like a frustum of a cone.

The outer upper circumferential surface portion of ring 236 has a taper that is the same as the taper of the inner lower circumferential surface of sidewall 226 against which it is configured to wedge. In this manner, a conical band of contact 244 is formed between ring 236 and sidewall 226. This band of contact 244 is preferably disposed at a constant angle of between 5° and 20° of vertical over its entire circumference. The height of band of contact 244 is preferably between 5% and 30% of the overall height “H” of ring 236.

The outer upper circumferential surface portion of ring 238 has a taper that is the same as the taper of the inner lower circumferential surface of ring 236. A conical band of contact 246 is formed between the inner lower circumferential surface of ring 236 and the outer upper circumferential surface of ring 238. This band of contact 246 is preferably disposed at and constant angle of between 50 and 20° of vertical over its entire circumference. The height of band of contact 246 is preferably between 5% and 30% of the overall height of ring 236 and between 5% and 30% of the overall height of ring 238.

The outer upper circumferential surface portion of ring 240 has a taper that is the same as the taper of the inner lower circumferential surface of ring 238. A conical band of contact 248 is formed between the inner lower circumferential surface of ring 238 and the outer upper circumferential surface of ring 240. This band of contact 248 is preferably disposed at a constant angle of between 5° and 20° of vertical over its entire circumference. The height of band of contact 248 is preferably between 5% and 30% of the overall height of ring 238 and between 5% and 30% of the overall height of ring 240.

Bands of contact 244, 246, 248 are disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical that fixes adjacent rings together when the rings are extended (FIGS. 4-6) to their fullest extent. The rings wedge together with enough pressure in between to wedge or lock adjacent rings together, and to wedge or lock in the uppermost ring to sidewall 226. The rings, when extended, together with the plate, form a single rigid member that cannot be pulled apart by the weigh of the cup. Once the rings are wedged against each other in this position, if the combined plate and cupholder is inverted, tilted sideways, or shaken, the rings will remain in their extended, wedged position (shown in FIGS. 4-6). This wedging is not so great, however, that it cannot be overcome by the manual application of force. A user, by applying hand force, can force base 242 upward, overcoming the friction between adjacent rings, and reducing the collapsible cup support to the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 7.

The cup disposed in the collapsible cup support of FIGS. 4-7 is a wine glass. It is the preferred cup for use in this embodiment, since it benefits most from the rigid connection between the rings that comprise the collapsible cup support. Wine glasses are quite top heavy and narrow in their midsections. This arrangement makes them particularly susceptible to being tipped over unless (as provided herein) the bottom of the collapsible support can be fixed rigidly with respect to the rest o the combined plate and cup holder.

FIG. 7 also illustrates the compact space in which the collapsible cup support can be stowed when the frictional connection between the individual rings is broken and the rings are collapsed together. In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the frictional connection between each of the adjacent rings has been broken by applying manual force to base 242. The rings are nested, one inside the other, but are still held together by the arrangement of base 242 with respect to the bottom of sidewall 226. Base 242 has an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the bottom of sidewall 226.

When the combined plate and cupholder is gradually lowered on to a flat surface 228 such as a picnic table, base 242 hangs downward under the force of gravity in the extended position shown in FIGS. 4-6. The first portion of the combined plate and cupholder to contact the surface 228 is base 242. As the user lowers the plate towards surface 228, base 242 and ring 240 to which it is attached initially rest upon the surface. Continued lowering of the combined plate and cupholder lower ring 238 until ring 238 rest upon base 242. Further lowering of the combined plate and cupholder causes ring 236 to lower around the outside of ring 238 and 240 until the bottom of ring 238 contacts base 242. Further lowering of the combined plate and cupholder causes sidewall 226 to lower around the outside of rings 236, 238 and 240 until sidewall 228, and rings 236, 238, and 240 are nested together as shown in FIG. 7, with both base 242 and base portion 200 resting flush upon surface 228. This process is what normally occurs when the combined cup and plate holder of FIGS. 4-7 is lowered towards the surface when the rings and sidewall 226 are not wedged together in their extended positions.

Once the combined plate and cupholder is placed on surface 228, the user can fill the plate up with a variety of foodstuffs. The user can also placed a beverage container, such as a cup or can into aperture 210 to rest upon the inside surface of base 242. In this position, the operator can carry his combined plate and cupholder simply by grasping one side (or both sides) of the plate and lifting upwards. As the plate is lifted, the rings will be lifted in quick succession, first ring 236 which will engage the bottom of sidewall 226, then ring 238 which will engage the bottom of ring 236, then ring 240 which will engage the bottom of ring 238. Ultimately, with the rings extended in this position and base 242 resting upon surface 228 further lifting of the plate by the user will lift base 242 off surface 228, raising the entire combined plate and cupholder together with the beverage resting on base 242 into the air.

The ring material and the taper angle of the rings is preferably selected such that the weight of a filled beverage container, for example, a 4-ounce wine glass plus the 4 ounces of liquid contents, a disposable plastic or foam beer cup plus 16 ounces of liquid contents, or a lightweight can of carbonated drink plus its 12 ounces in liquid contents will cause the rings to extend and wedge together. Once they have wedged in position, they are particularly resistant to tilting or tipping with respect to base portion 200, and spilling the beverage container and its contents onto food that rests on base portion 200.

A further advantage of wedging the rings together is that they can be used as a handhold to permit the plate and cupholder to be supported by a single hand. This obviates the requirement of the channel, such as that shown in the '672 patent, for resting the plate upon a forearm of the user. Each of the rings illustrated in the '672 patent that comprise the collapsible cup support of that patent are not fixed together. The rings merely rest, one within the other, on flanges that extend outward therefrom. There is no frictional inter-engagement, no fixed coupling of ring to ring. And therefore the device of the '672 patent does not form, together with the plate from which it descends, a single, fixed, rigid member, as is provided by the frictional engagement of the present invention. As a result, the plate of the '672 patent must always be supported by a hand grasping a rim of the plate, or by a forearm fitted into the elongated channel and supporting the plate underneath.

Either of the combined plate and cupholders illustrated herein can be made of a layer of wet matted paper that is transferred to a polished mold cavity that defines the upper surface of the combined plate and cupholder. A screen may be placed against the bottom surface of the paper mat, and water from the paper mat may be suctioned out through the screen against the bottom surface of the mat to form a semi-dry, semi-rigid combined plate and cupholder formed between the mold cavity and the screen. This semi-finished product can be further dried to finish it, such as by drying in an oven. The aperture shown in the FIGURES herein is preferably formed by punching a hole in the bottom of the base portion. Either of the two alternative combined plate and cupholders shown herein can be formed by this method. The rings that comprise the collapsible cup support are preferably made of plastic, glass or metal. That portion of either illustrated combined plate and cupholder into which the collapsible cup support is inserted can also be made of plastic, glass or metal instead of paper. The combined plate and cupholders herein may be transparent, opaque, colored or translucent.

The description above is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed below, but to provide the fullest explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in sufficient detail to permit someone to manufacture and use them.

Claims

1. A combined plate and cupholder for holding a cup and food, comprising:

a plate portion for supporting foodstuffs and having an aperture therethrough to receive the cup; and

a cupholder for supporting the cup, wherein the cupholder is disposed about and forms a periphery of the aperture.

2. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 1 wherein the plate comprises a planar plate portion and an upwardly-extending peripheral flange extending therefrom, and wherein the cupholder comprises an upstanding rim, the rim comprising an outer sidewall having a lower edge fixed to the aperture, a top surface fixed to the top of the outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall fixed to and extending down from the top surface inside the outer sidewall.

3. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 2, wherein the combined plate and cupholder is elliptical and the aperture is disposed at one end of the plate portion.

4. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 3, wherein the plate portion and the cupholder are comprised of matted paper.

5. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 1, wherein the cupholder has an inwardly-facing sidewall that extends downward and necks inward at a sidewall angle of 5 to 15 degrees from vertical, the combined plate and cupholder further comprising the cup, which is disposed within the aperture and is supported by the inner sidewall of the rim, the cup having an outer sidewall that flares upwardly and outwardly at a cup wall angle of between 5 and 15 degrees from vertical.

6. A combined plate and cupholder, comprising:

a plate including a planar base portion configured to support foodstuffs, and a rim coupled to the base portion and extending outward and upward therefrom to prevent foodstuffs from falling off the plate, the base portion having an aperture therethrough to receive and support a cup; and

a cupholder disposed about the periphery of the aperture, the cupholder comprising a cupholder rim that is fixed to the base portion around a periphery of the aperture, and a locking collapsible cup support disposed in the aperture to support the bottom of the cup.

7. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 6, wherein the locking collapsible cup support further includes a plurality of telescopically interengaged rings configured to lock together in frictional engagement to each other and to the cupholder rim.

8. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 7, wherein the plurality of rings include at least a first ring configured to frictionally lock to the cupholder rim, and at least a second ring further comprising a base disposed to support the cup.

9. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 8, wherein the plurality of rings includes at least one ring disposed between and frictionally engageable to the first ring and to the second ring to thereby form a rigid telescopically extended body.

10. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 6, wherein the plate and cupholder are made of transparent plastic and are configured to support a transparent cup.

11. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 10, wherein the transparent cup is a wine glass.

12. The combined cup and placeholder of claim 6, wherein one of the plurality of rings includes a means for preventing disassembly of the locking collapsible cup support.

13. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 12, wherein the means for preventing disassembly includes a flange that extends outwardly from one of said plurality of rings coupled to the first ring and is configured to interfere with the first ring and prevent the removal of said one of said plurality of rings from the first ring.

14. A combined plate and cupholder comprising:

a plate including a planar base portion having a height and a rim that extends outward and upward from said base portion, wherein the rim and base portion together define a single food compartment, the plate further defining an aperture therethrough that is configured to receive and support a cup; and

a cupholder disposed about the periphery of the aperture, the cupholder comprising a collapsible cup support disposed in the aperture to support the bottom of the cup.

15. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 14, further comprising a rim fixed to the periphery of the aperture to which the collapsible cup support is fixed, the rim comprising an outer sidewall, a top surface, and an inner sidewall.

16. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 15, wherein the collapsible cup support includes plurality of telescopic rings, the plurality of rings being configured to engage one with another to position a supporting base for the bottom of a cup below the height of the planar base portion.

17. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 16, wherein the plurality of rings wedge together to form a rigid member generally shaped as a frustum of a cone.

18. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 17, wherein the collapsible cup support permits leakage therethrough.

19. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 18, wherein the supporting base has a hole therethrough.

20. The combined plate and cupholder of claim 19, wherein the hole is disposed in the center of the base.