CUSTOMIZABLE ATTACHABLE FOOD HOLDING DEVICE

Abstract

A customizable attachable food holding device includes a main body having an upper body section that is hingedly secured to a lower body section, so as to transition between a generally flat orientation and a folded orientation. The main body is constructed from a paper product, and the lower body section includes a pair of folding side sections which fold beneath the upper body section. An adhesive is positioned along one surface of the lower body section, and a food receptacle is secured onto the upper body section via a connector.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/837,436 filed Aug. 27, 2016; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/018,083, filed Sep. 4, 2013; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/904,320, filed on May 29, 2013, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of ornamentation and event merchandise, and more particularly to an adhesive backed customizable article for holding food items that can be adhered to an article of clothing.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Each year, millions of individuals pack venues across the globe to view sporting events such as soccer, football, baseball, basketball and golf, for example. While in attendance, these individuals are presented with an exhausting choice of event merchandise such as stickers, T-shirts, banners, and other such keepsakes, which incorporate event details such as the team names, color schemes, favorite players, dates and the like. Such merchandise must be finalized weeks in advance to ensure that all ordered items can be manufactured and shipped to the venue in time for the event. Additionally, great care must be taken by merchants to accurately anticipate crowd levels, projected sales, and other such factors to ensure they are not left with unsold merchandise after the event has concluded.

Although there are known products such as iron-on patches, for example, which can include event details and be created on-demand during the event, these items are not generally popular, as they cannot be customized to suit the end user, and cannot be secured to the users existing clothing without permanently altering the same.

Moreover, while attending the event, most people purchase some type of food item such as hotdogs, burgers and/or pizza, for example. Unfortunately, many venues do not provide trays or other types of food holders, thereby requiring users to place these messy items on their laps where they are often spilled.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an adhesive backed customizable article for holding food items that can be adhered to an article of the users clothing. It would also be beneficial if the article could be customized during an event, so as to display any desirable event details selected by the user and without causing permanent damage to their clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a customizable attachable food holding device. One embodiment of the present invention can include a main body having an upper body section that is hingedly secured to a lower body section, so as to transition between a generally flat orientation and a folded orientation. The main body can be constructed from a paper product so as to receive event indicia from a printer. The lower body section can include a pair of folding side sections which can fold beneath the upper body section to support a weight of the same, and one surface of the lower body section can include an adhesive for securing the main body onto an article of clothing.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include a food receptacle for storing any type of food item. The food receptacle can be secured onto the upper body section via a connector when the device is in use.

In yet another embodiment, the device can include an aperture along the upper body section which can function to receive a beverage.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an exploded parts view of a customizable attachable food holding device that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the main body of the customizable attachable food holding device, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the main body of the customizable attachable food holding device in the folded orientation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C is another top view of the main body of the customizable attachable food holding device, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the customizable attachable food holding device in operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

Identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Although described throughout this document as being used to hold food items, this is for illustrative purposes only, as the below described device can be used to hold any item that is desirable to a device user.

As described throughout this document, the term “event indicia” can include, without limitation, any type of decorative elements such as colors, markings, words, shapes, symbols, logos, designs, types of materials, lights, patterns, images, lithographs and photographs, for example. To this end, the event indicia can be tailored to a specific event such as a world cup soccer game, for example, wherein each participating country and/or team can be represented. Of course, any number of other events ranging from sports to music, for example, are also contemplated. Additionally, the event indicia can be customized to suit the particular interests of an end user to include personal items such as the users' name, dates and/or personal messages, for example. As described herein, the term “venue” can include any location such as an arena, stadium, store, mall, home or office where the article may be shipped, stored and/or sold to consumers.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of a customizable attachable food holding device 10 that are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. As shown, the device can include, essentially one or more food receptacles 15 which can be secured onto a customizable folding main body 20 having a peel and stick backing.

As described herein, the food receptacle 15 can include any number of different shapes and sizes which can hold one or more items of food. In various embodiments the food receptacle can include or comprise a bowl 15a, a plate 15b, and/or box 15c, such as a clamshell box, for example. The food receptacle can preferably be constructed from a lightweight material such as paper, cardboard or plastic, for example, that are commonly used at venues as a means for conveying food items to customers. Of course, any number of other shapes, sizes and materials which are suitable for being in direct contact with human food are also contemplated.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the main body 20 can include an upper body section 21 having a top surface 21a, a bottom surface 21b, a top end 21c, a bottom end 21d and a pair of opposing sides 21e and 21f. The main body can also include a lower body section 22 that includes a top surface 22a, a bottom surface 22b, a top end 22c, a bottom end 22d, opposing sides 22e-22f, and folding side sections 22e1 and 22f1.

In one embodiment, a first hinge 23a can be disposed between the upper and lower body sections where the bottom end 21d and the top end 22c meet. This hinge can function to allow the upper body section 21 to fold (see arrow a) approximately 90 degrees with respect to the lower body section 22, so as to transition the main body between the flat configuration shown in FIG. 2A, and the open/folded configuration shown in FIG. 2B.

In one embodiment, the main body can also include a pair of side hinges 23b and 23c, which can be disposed along the folding side sections 22e1 and 22f1, respectively. These side hinges can function to allow the side sections to fold (see arrow b) approximately 90 degrees with respect to the lower body section, so as to engage the bottom surface 21b of the upper body section 21 when the device is in the folded configuration. As should be readily apparent, such a feature provides support for the upper body section and allows the same to function as a tray for receiving any number of food receptacles thereon.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the hinges 23a, 23b and 23c can be in the form of a living hinge that is formed as a unitary element of the main body. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein one or more of the hinges are not constructed as a unitary element of the main body.

In various embodiments, the main body 20 can be imprinted with event indicia A before being folded and attached to an article of the users clothing. As such, the main body can preferably be constructed from recyclable paper products such as a single piece of thin, flat semi-rigid cardboard, for example, which can be fed into a commercial printer so as to receive the event indicia along any surface. Of course, any number of other materials are also contemplated. To this end, the main body can be flat shipped to a venue with no indicia and can be printed on-site to include any event details such as the team name/colors that the user prefers. Alternatively, each main body can be shipped with pre-printed indicia as well.

In one embodiment, an adhesive 24a such as glue or resin, for example, can be provided along the top surface 22a of the lower body section 22. Such a feature allows the lower body section to be adhered directly to an article of clothing in a peel-and-stick manner. The adhesive can be protected by a removable cover 24b until use.

In one embodiment, one or more connectors 25 can be disposed along the top surface 21a of the upper body section 21. Each of the one or more connectors can function to permanently or removably secure a food receptacle to the upper body section when the device is in the folded configuration. Additionally, the upper body section can also include an aperture 25 having a diameter of approximately 3 inches. Such a feature can allow the device to receive a disposable beverage container such as a paper or plastic cup, for example.

As described herein, the term “removably secured” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated. This can be accomplished through the use of any number of commercially available connectors such as opposing strips of hook and loop material (i.e. Velcro®), magnetic elements, and/or compression fittings such as hooks, snaps and buttons, for example. Moreover, the term “permanently secured” shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a manner so as to prevent the same objects from being separated. Several nonlimiting examples include various adhesives such as glue or resin, for example.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the device in use. As shown, a user can transition the main body to the folded configuration described above at FIG. 2B. At this time, the user can remove the protective layer from the lower body section 22 and adhere the device onto their shirt or other article of clothing 5. Finally, a user can deposit any type of food receptacle 15 having food 6 or other such items onto the flat surface formed by the upper body section 21. At this time the user can also place a cup 7 or other beverage container into the aperture 26. When so positioned, the device 10 will remain affixed to the user, thereby providing him or her with a hands-free tray for storing and enjoying their food and/or beverage items.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A customizable attachable food holding device, said device comprising:

a main body having an upper body section and a lower body section;

a hinge that is disposed between the upper body section and the lower body section;

a pair of folding side sections that are disposed along the lower body section at a location adjacent to the upper body section; and

an adhesive that is disposed along a first surface of the lower body section,

wherein the upper and lower body sections are configured to fold along the hinge so as to transition between a flat main body configuration and a folded main body configuration.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body is constructed from a paper product that is designed to receive indicia from a printer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein in the folded configuration, the lower body section is in a vertical orientation, the upper body section is in a horizontal orientation, and each of the folding side sections are oriented perpendicular to the upper body section.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one food receptacle that is configured to store a food item.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one food receptacle comprises a bowl.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one food receptacle comprises a plate.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one food receptacle comprises a box.

8. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

a connector that is interposed between the food receptacle and the upper body section.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the connector is configured to permanently secure the food receptacle onto the upper body section.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the connector is configured to removably secure the food receptacle onto the upper body section.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture that is disposed along the upper body section, said aperture including a dimension suitable for receiving a disposable cup.