FOOD RECEPTACLE FOR USE WITH BEVERAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A food receptacle includes a first surface to hold items including food, a second surface, opposite the second surface, and a hole extending through the center axis of the food receptacle to receive a beverage container such that when the beverage container has a largest outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole, the beverage container extends through the hole and is held by the user and the food receptacle is supported by resting the second surface of the food receptacle on a surface of the hand, and when the beverage container is conical in shape and the beverage container's largest outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the hole, the beverage container is supported by the edge of the hole and the food receptacle is held by the user.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to food receptacles, and more particularly, to a food receptacle to be used with a beverage container, such that the beverage container and food receptacle can be easily held by a single hand of a user.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional food receptacles require a user to hold the food receptacle with one hand. In order to consume food off the food receptacle when the user is simultaneously holding a beverage container and the food receptacle, the user must either place the beverage container on another surface or precariously hold the food receptacle and the beverage container, which can lead to spills and/or making eating from the food receptacle difficult.

In order to solve this problem, food receptacles having a beverage container support have been proposed. For example, U.S. Publication Number 2006/0251075 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,672,175 B2 both propose food receptacles intended to rest on the top of or surrounding a beverage container, whereby a user holds the beverage container and the food receptacle is supported by the beverage container.

However, problems exist with such food receptacles. For example, these conventional food receptacles multiples supports and projections to support the beverage containers. The complexity of the food receptacles increases the time and cost for producing the food receptacles.

Moreover, applying designs to conventional food receptacles becomes difficult when the food receptacle includes multiple supports and projections. Since it is desirable to apply the logos of sports teams and corporations, as well as other designs, to food receptacles, a food receptacle to which such designs may be applied reduces time and cost.

Accordingly, it is necessary for a food receptacle which is easily produced and which a user can support, along with a beverage container, with a single hand. Exemplary embodiments overcome these shortcomings and solve the problems associated with the conventional food receptacles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food receptacle according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a food receptacle containing a beverage container according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top a perspective view of a food receptacle supporting a beverage container according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a food receptacle for containing a beverage container according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view a food receptacle according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another food receptacle supporting a beverage container according to exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of a food receptacle according to another exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Like reference numerals are used throughout the specification and figures.

Exemplary embodiments include a food receptacle 1, shown in FIG. 1, having a first surface 2 and a second surface 3, opposite the first surface 2. The food receptacle 1 of FIG. 1 is circular in shape and has an outer circumferential edge. Yet, the food receptacle 1 is not limited to this shape, and may be formed as a square, triangle, or any other shape known to one of skill in the art. A hole 4 is provided in the center of the food receptacle 1 and extends from the first surface 2 through the food receptacle 1 to the second surface 3. While the hole 4 in FIG. 1 is provided in the axial center of the food receptacle 1, the hole 4 is not limited to this position, and may be located at any position through the food receptacle 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a beverage container 6 provided in the hole 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the beverage container 6 has a largest outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole 4. In this configuration, a user's hand 5 holds the portion of the beverage container 6 that extends from the second surface 3 of the food receptacle 1. In this manner, the food receptacle 1 is supported by resting the second surface 3 of the food receptacle 1 on a surface of the user's hand 5. This configuration allows the user to have a free hand to eat food from the food receptacle 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the beverage container 6 having a conical shape such that, when the largest outer diameter of the beverage container 6 is greater than the diameter of the hole 4, the beverage container 6 is placed into the hole 4 from the first surface 2 and the beverage container 6 is supported by the edge of the hole 4 and the food receptacle 1 is held by the user. Since the beverage container 6 is supported by the food receptacle 1, this configuration similarly allows the user to have a free hand with which to eat food from the food receptacle 1 or to provide other activities.

FIG. 4 illustrates the shape of the food receptacle 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the first surface 2 of the food receptacle 1 has a concave shape from an outer edge of the food receptacle 1 to an outer edge of the hole 4. However, the food receptacle 1 is not limited to this shape and may be any shape known to one of skill in the art, including a flat first surface 1 and a lip on the outer edge of the food receptacle 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a food receptacle 1 according to another exemplary embodiment. The food receptacle 1 similarly includes a first surface 2 and a second surface 3, opposite the first surface 2. The food receptacle 1 includes a slit 8 that extends from the edge of the food receptacle 1 towards the central axis of the food receptacle 1. The slit 8 extends through the food receptacle 1 from the first side 2 to the second side 3. The slit 8 ends in a through hole 9 that similarly extends through the food receptacle 1 from the first side 2 to the second side 3. FIG. 6 illustrates that beverage container 6 is configured to be received in the through hole 9 via the slit 8. In this configuration, the beverage container 6, which is provided in the through hole 9, is supported by the food receptacle 1 when the food receptacle 1 is held by the user. For example, in this embodiment, the food receptacle can hold a wine glass having a stem with the rounded portion of the wine glass resting in the tapered wall 10 of the hole and the stem of the wine glass being received in the slit and extending below the receptacle.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slit 8 allows a central portion of the beverage receptacle 6 to slide into the through hole 9, thereby allowing the bottom surface of the liquid containing portion of the beverage container 6 to be supported by the first surface 2 of the food receptacle 1. The food receptacle 1 may have a generally concave shape on the first surface 2. However, it will be understood that the first surface 2 may be flat and the food receptacle 1 may include a lip on the outer edge of the food receptacle 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section view of the food receptacle 1 according to the exemplary embodiment. The through hole 9 includes the side wall 10 which can be tapered. In one exemplary embodiment, the side wall 10 tapers toward the central axis of the through hole 9 from the first surface 2 to the second surface 3. In this manner, the beverage container 6 may be more securely held by the through hole 9. According to one exemplary embodiment, a distance between the first surface 2 and the second surface 3 decreases from the opening of the through hole 9 toward the central axis of the food receptacle 1.

The food receptacle 1 may be formed of any material known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including but not limited to a resin or polymer. The food receptacle 1 may also be made by any method known to those in the art, including but not limited to injection molding. While not shown in the figures, the food receptacle 1 may be provided with a logo, design, or finish on the first surface 2 and/or the second surface 3, which may be performed by 3D sublimation, dye sublimation, screen printing, lamination, or any other method known to those in the art.

In view of the exemplary embodiments, food receptacles are provided that allow a user to simultaneously support the food container and a beverage container using a single hand. Further, in view of the design of the food receptacle, design and fabrication costs are reduced. Further, a design or other finish may be easily applied to the surface of the food receptacle, thereby reducing the time and money necessary to form such food receptacles.

It will be understood that exemplary embodiments have been described, but one of skill in the art is not limited to the materials and/or techniques described herein for providing the exemplary food receptacles.

Claims

1. A food receptacle, comprising:

a first surface, circular in shape, configured to hold items including food;

a second surface, opposite the second surface; and

a hole extending through the center axis of the food receptacle and configured to receive a beverage container,

wherein if the beverage container has a largest outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole, the beverage container extends through the hole and is held by the user and the food receptacle is supported by resting the second surface of the food receptacle on a surface of the hand, and

wherein if the beverage container is conical in shape and the beverage container's largest outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the hole, the beverage container is placed into the hole from the first surface such that the beverage container is supported by the edge of the hole and the food receptacle is held by the user.

2. The food receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the first surface of the food receptacle has a concave shape from an outer edge of the food receptacle to an outer edge of the hole.

3. A food receptacle, comprising:

a first surface, circular in shape, configured to hold items including food;

a second surface, opposite the second surface;

a slit extending from the edge of the food receptacle toward the center axis of the food receptacle; and

a through hole provided at an end of the slit opposite the edge of the food receptacle,

wherein a beverage container is configured to be received in the through hole via the slit, and

wherein the beverage container, provided in the through hole, is supported by the food receptacle when the food receptacle is held by the user.

4. The food receptacle according to claim 3,

wherein the slit is configured to allow a central portion of the beverage container to slide into the through hole, and

a bottom surface of a liquid containing portion of the beverage container is supported by the through hole on the first surface of the food receptacle.

5. The food receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the through hole has at least one tapered edge.

6. The food receptacle according to claim 5, wherein the tapered edge tapers toward the central axis of the through hole from the first surface to the second surface.

7. The food receptacle according to claim 3, wherein a distance between the first surface and the second surface decreases from the opening of the through hole toward the central axis of the food receptacle.

8. A method of supporting a food receptacle, having a first surface, a second surface, and a hole, and a beverage container, comprising:

placing, if the beverage container has a largest outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole, the beverage container through the hole and holding the food receptacle by resting the second surface of the food receptacle on a surface of the hand, and

placing, if the beverage container is conical in shape and the beverage container's largest outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the hole, the beverage container into the hole from the first surface such that the beverage container is supported by the edge of the hole and holding the food receptacle.