HANDLE DEVICE FOR PLATE

Abstract

Described herein is a handle device for holding a plate and a drinking vessel in one hand. A preferred version includes a plate, a hinge connected to the plate, and a handle connected to the hinge. The plate has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is dimensioned and configured to hold food. The handle is movable between a folded position with at least a portion of the handle substantially flush with the lower surface of the plate and an extended position with the portion substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of the plate. Some versions of the invention additionally or alternatively include a support between the hinge and the plate.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/183,589 filed Jun. 3, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to handles configured to attach to plates to enable a user to simultaneously hold a plate and a drink in one hand.

BACKGROUND

While dining, particularly in a buffet style environment, it is often necessary for the parties dining to hold a plate and a cup while traveling through a buffet line and/or while consuming the meal at a location with no access to a dining table. As a result, the parties are faced with the cumbersome task of attempting to hold a plate and a cup while serving themselves food and drink from a buffet table, and/or while consuming the meal. This situation hinders the enjoyment of such dining and often results in food or drink being spilled. Therefore, a need has been created for a reliable and economical means for holding a plate and a cup with a single hand, thereby enabling a dining party to retain a free hand for serving and eating a meal.

The present invention was developed to address this need by providing a device which enables a plate and a cup to be securely held with a single hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One version of the invention is directed to a plate having a hinged handle incorporated into the bottom of a plate. Prior to use, the handle folds flat against the bottom of the plate, allowing several plates to be stacked and packaged in conventional fashion. In use, the handle is extended and the plate is placed on top of a drinking vessel being held, with the handle extending partly around the drinking vessel. The user easily grasps both the extended handle and the drinking vessel in one hand at the same time. For example, if the user eats with his or her right hand, the user's drinking vessel and plate (with handle extended) are held firmly and securely in the user's left hand. In this fashion, the user's right hand is free to consume the meal. When the user desires to consume the drink, the user simply takes and holds the plate with the free right hand. At this point, the user's left hand holds only the drinking vessel containing the drink, which is ready for consumption. When the user is again ready to eat, he or she simply places the plate (with handle extended) on top of the drinking vessel in the user's left hand. If the user wishes to set the plate down, the user can do so by folding the handle flat against the plate and setting the plate on a table.

A first exemplary version of the invention comprises a device including a support, a hinge connected to the support, and a handle connected to the hinge. The support has an upper surface and a lower surface with the upper surface including a fastener dimensioned and configured to secure the support to a solid object such as a plate. The handle is movable about the hinge between a folded position with at least a portion of the handle substantially flush with the lower surface of the support and an extended position with the portion of the handle substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of the support. The device may, optionally, further include a plate with an upper and a lower surface. The plate is attached at its lower surface to the support via the fastener. The upper surface of the plate is dimensioned and configured to hold food.

A second exemplary version of the invention comprises a device including a plate, a hinge connected to the plate, and a handle connected to the hinge. The plate has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the upper surface dimensioned and configured to hold food. The handle is movable about the hinge between a folded position with at least a portion of the handle substantially flush with the lower surface of the plate and an extended position with the portion substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of the plate.

A third exemplary version of the invention comprises a device including a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface dimensioned and configured to hold food. The device further includes a handle connected to the lower surface of the plate and configured to rigidly extend substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

A fourth exemplary version of the invention comprises a device including a support having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface including a fastener dimensioned and configured to secure the support to a solid object. The device further includes a handle connected to the lower surface of the support and configured to rigidly extend substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

The objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a device of the invention comprising a plate, a support, a handle, and a hinge, with the handle in a folded position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device of the invention shown in FIG. 1 but with the handle in an extended position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a device of the invention depicting a handle configured to mate with a drinking vessel.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the handle shown in FIG. 3 in combination with a plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary version of a device 10 of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 10 includes a food-serving plate 12. Affixed to the bottom surface of the plate 12 is an optional support 14, which is connected to a handle 16 via a hinge 18. The device 10 as shown in FIG. 1 has the handle 16 substantially flush against the support 14 in a folded position. As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, the handle 16 may be pivoted about the hinge 18 so that the handle 16 extends from the bottom of plate 12 in an extended position. The device 10 with the handle 16 in the extended position is shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the handle 16 and a drinking vessel 100 may be simultaneously grasped with the same hand. The support 14 provides rigidity to the plate 12 when the handle 16 is in the extended position.

FIG. 3 shows another version of the device 10 in which the support 14 and handle 16 (which may or may not be connected to the support 14 via hinge 18) form a unit that is separate from the plate 12. The user may purchase the support/handle 14/16 combination and attach it to a plate 12 purchased separately, as shown in FIG. 4. The support 14 comprises a fastener on its top surface that enables it to be either permanently or removably attached to a plate 12. The handle 16 in the version shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a curvature and is in the shape of a partial hollow cylinder. This enables the handle 16 to at least partially wrap around a drinking vessel 100 to facilitate securely and simultaneously gripping a drinking vessel 100 along with the handle 16.

As used herein, the term “plate” is used in its broadest sense to denote any type of serving platter, such as an appetizer, dinner, or soup plate, bowl, serving dish, etc., without limitation. The plate 12 at minimum includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is dimensioned and configured to hold food. For example, the upper surface preferably includes either a depressed portion or an elevated perimeter. Alternatively, the upper surface is concave in shape. The lower surface is dimensioned and configured to attach either to the support 14 via a fastener or directly to the hinge 18.

The support 14 is preferably a rigid platform-like structure that includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the support 14 is either permanently attached to a plate 12 or comprises a fastener to attach to a plate 12, preferably in a removable fashion. The support 14 provides a rigid base for supporting a drinking vessel 100 thereon in addition to providing support for the handle 16 and hinge 18, particularly when the handle 16 is in the extended position. The support 14 can be any shape, such as oval, square, etc. but is preferably round.

The hinge can be any device that permits movement of the handle 16 relative to the support 14 or plate 12 in a stable, predictable manner. In one version, the hinge 18 is structured to limit extension of the handle 16 to a position substantially perpendicular to either the support 14 or the plate 12. In other versions, the hinge may be structured to limit extension of the handle 16 to other angles relative to either the support 14 or the plate 12 to accommodate drinking vessels 100 having other shapes, for example a cone-type shape, etc. By limiting the range of motion of the hinge 18, the stability of the plate 12 when it is grasped by the handle 16 is increased. This gives users confidence that when they pick up both the plate 12 and their drinking vessel 100, the contents of the plate 12 are secure.

The hinge 18 is preferably a living hinge formed between support 14 and the handle 16. A living hinge is a thin flexible hinge (flexure bearing) made from a flexible material that joins two rigid units together. A thinned section of the flexible material may facilitate the rigid units to bend with respect to each other along the hinge. Living hinges may be manufactured in an injection molding operation that creates all three parts (the hinge and two rigid parts) as a single unit. Alternatively, the rigid units may be bonded to the flexible material comprising the hinge. Polyethylene and polypropylene are considered to be the best resins for living hinges, due to their excellent fatigue resistance. Living hinges allow predictable movement with minimal friction and very little wear. Their low cost and ease of manufacturing makes them quite common in disposable packaging. Although living hinges are preferred for the above-mentioned reasons, hinges other than living hinges may also be used.

The handle 16 is structured to enable a user to grasp both it 16 and a drinking vessel 100 in one hand. In one version, the handle 16 is structured to fit in the palm of the hand and between the index finger and thumb, with the index finger, thumb and remaining fingers wrapped around the drinking vessel 100. In another version, the handle 16 is structured to fit between the fingers and the drinking vessel 100, with the fingers, the palm of the hand, and the thumb wrapped around the drinking vessel 100. In some versions, the handle 16 is in the form of a substantially flat, “bar-like” extension, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In such versions, the entire handle 16 is preferably substantially flush with the support 14 when in a folded position as shown in FIG. 1. The handle 16 may also comprise a curvature to at least partially wrap around a drinking vessel 100, the latter of which is conventionally in the form of a cylinder. For example, a handle comprising a curvature may take the form of a partial hollow cylinder, as shown in FIG. 3. When employed with a hinge 18, a handle 16 so formed may have only a portion thereof substantially flush against either the support 14 or the plate 12 when in the folded position. This would occur when the handle 16 is both longitudinally (i.e., along an axis starting at the support 14, plate 12, or hinge 18 and extending therefrom) and laterally (i.e., along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis) rigid. However, the handle 16 may also be longitudinally rigid but laterally flexible. This enables the entire handle 16 to be flush against the support 14 or the plate 12 in the folded position, yet wrap around the drinking vessel 100 when in use in the extended position. Another version of a handle 16 comprising a curvature may be in the form of a truncated, open-ended cylinder. A first open end of the open-ended cylinder is attached to the support 14 or plate 12, and a second open end is end dimensioned and configured to fit around a top portion of a cylindrical vessel. Such an open-ended cylinder may also be combined with a partial hollow cylinder or a substantially flat, bar-like handle 16.

The handle 16 is preferably positioned on the bottom surface of either the support 14 or the plate 12 at a position offset from a center portion thereof. This enables the drinking vessel 100 to contact the bottom-center of either the support 14 or plate 12 to balance the support 14 or plate 12 thereon while being held against the handle 16.

The fastener is preferably selected from the group consisting of adhesive, a magnet, double-sided tape, and hook-and-loop fastener. Other fasteners known in the art are acceptable.

The drinking vessel 100 may be any vessel suitable for holding any kind of drink, without exception. Thus, drinking vessels include cups and glasses of any description, as well as bottles, cans, juice box-type containers, and the like.

The device 10 encompasses several versions comprising various combinations of the components described herein. As shown in FIG. 1, some versions of the device include a plate 12, support 14, hinge 18, and handle 16 as a single, pre-attached unit. In other versions, the support 14 is omitted, and the handle 16 is attached directly to the bottom surface of the plate 12 via the hinge 18. In further versions, the device 10 comprises only the support 14, the hinge 18, and the handle 16, and the support 14 is structured to be removably attachable to a plate 12 via a fastener. In yet other versions, the device comprises a handle 16 and a support 14 without the hinge 18 and the plate 12. In these versions, the handle 16 is permanently in the extended position, i.e., orthogonal to the support 14, and the support 14 is structured to be removably attachable to a plate 12 via a fastener. In this manner, the plates 12 can be stacked in a conventional manner when not in use. The handle 16 with the support 14 is also appropriately structured to be stacked for storage when not in use. Prior to use, the support 14 is fastened to the plate 12. After use, either the plate 12 and/or the remaining device 10 can be disposed of separately or together, depending on whether either or both is/are disposable.

The components described herein may be composed of any suitable material, including paper products, plastic, metal, and combinations thereof. More specifically the components may be composed of paper, tag board, cardboard, or other paper-supported products, molded or blown polymers, such as polystyrene and the like, sheet metal, and combinations thereof. All the components may be composed of the same material, or each component or combinations of components may be composed of different materials. This applies even to the hinge, which, if in the form of a living hinge, can be comprised of any flexible material.

Any individual component or combination of components described herein can be removably attachable to the remaining components of the device 10.

In preferred versions of the invention, the entire device 10 is disposable. Alternatively, individual components or combination of components are disposable, with remaining components of the device 10 being non-disposable.

The elements or components described herein can be used in any combination whether explicitly described or not.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The device of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of any combination of the elements, components, or structural limitations explicitly or inherently described herein, in addition to any additional elements, components, or limitations useful in the art.

It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A handle device comprising:

a support having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface including a fastener dimensioned and configured to secure the support to a solid object;

a hinge connected to the support; and

a handle connected to the hinge and movable between a folded position with at least a portion of the handle substantially flush with the lower surface of the support and an extended position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, a magnet, double-sided tape, and hook-and-loop fastener.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the support, hinge, or handle is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of paper products, plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle is substantially flat and wherein the entire handle is substantially flush with the lower surface of the support when in the folded position.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a curvature dimensioned and configured to wrap at least partially around a vessel.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle extends from the support at a position offset from a center portion of the lower surface of the support.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the hinge is configured to limit extension of the handle no more than about 90 degrees from the lower surface of the support.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plate attached to the support via the fastener and having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is dimensioned and configured to hold food.

10. A handle device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface dimensioned and configured to hold food;

a hinge connected to the plate; and

a handle connected to the hinge and movable between a folded position with at least a portion of the handle substantially flush with the lower surface of the plate and an extended position.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the plate, hinge, or handle is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of paper products, plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the handle is substantially flat and wherein the entire handle is substantially flush with the lower surface of the support when in the folded position.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the handle comprises a curvature dimensioned and configured to wrap at least partially around a cylindrical vessel.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the handle extends from the support at a position offset from a center portion of the lower surface of the support.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the hinge is configured to limit extension of the handle no more than about 90 degrees from the lower surface of the support.

17. A handle device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface dimensioned and configured to hold food; and

a handle connected to the lower surface of the plate and configured to rigidly extend substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the handle comprises a partial hollow cylinder dimensioned and configured to wrap at least partially around a cylindrical vessel.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the handle extends from the plate at a position offset from a center portion of the lower surface of the plate.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the handle comprises a hollow, open-ended cylinder dimensioned and configured to fit around a top portion of a cylindrical vessel.

21. A handle device comprising:

a support having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface including a fastener dimensioned and configured to secure the support to a solid object; and

a handle connected to the lower surface of the support and configured to rigidly extend substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the handle extends from the support at a position offset from a center portion of the lower surface of the support.