초록 ▼

An interlocking plate and cup set for use in casual dining so that one can hold a plate and cup with one hand. The plate and cup mate together so that the cup will be securely held to the plate and so that the mated combination can be placed on and removed from a flat surface without separation. The

An interlocking plate and cup set for use in casual dining so that one can hold a plate and cup with one hand. The plate and cup mate together so that the cup will be securely held to the plate and so that the mated combination can be placed on and removed from a flat surface without separation. The plate is generally flat and has an upper surface with a raised circumferential edge (12) for restraining food. The upper surface of the plate also has a cup-holding support (20) comprising a slot (24) extending in from the edge of the plate. The slot terminates in a concave cup-support area (22). The cup has a relatively broad base (30), a relatively narrow stem (32) extending up from the base, and a relatively broad liquid-holding body portion (34) extending up fro the stem. The body portion has a convex bottom surface (42) facing downward which is shaped to mate with the cup-support area in the plate. The cup support portion of the plate is spaced from the bottom of the plate and the cup\s stem is dimensioned such that (a) the cup can be mated with the plate by inserting the stem of the cup into the slot of the plate until the convex underside of the cups body mates with the concave area of the plate, and (b) when the mated combination is placed upon a flat horizontal surface, it will remain mated.

대표청구항 ▼

A mating plate and cup set, comprising: a plate having upper and lower major surfaces which face in opposite directions, said upper and lower surfaces being joined by an edge, said plate having a notch extending in from an edge thereof for receiving the stem of a cup, said notch terminating at a loc

A mating plate and cup set, comprising: a plate having upper and lower major surfaces which face in opposite directions, said upper and lower surfaces being joined by an edge, said plate having a notch extending in from an edge thereof for receiving the stem of a cup, said notch terminating at a location on said plate spaced in from said edge, the portion of said plate surrounding the termination of said notch, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to said upper surface thereof, comprising a concavity which surrounds said termination of said notch, said concavity having a predetermined shape and a given dimension when measured in a direction parallel to said upper surface of said plate, and a mating cup having a body which is capable of carrying a quantity of liquid, a base which is below said base and which is capable of supporting said cup in a stable manner on a flat, horizontal surface, and a stem interconnecting said body and said base, said stem having an axis and being narrower than said body and said base and able to slide in said notch of said plate, the bottom surface of said body having a peripheral area which is substantially flat and perpendicular to said axis of said stem, and a downwardly projecting convex portion which is surrounded by said peripheral area and surrounds and is adjacent to said stem, said convex portion extending down from said peripheral area and having a predetermined shape which conformingly mates with said concavity when said cup is mated with said plate by inserting said stem into said notch and positioning said inner portion of said cup into said concavity of said plate, said peripheral and inner portions of said bottom surface of said plate being dimensioned, when said plate and cup are mated and when measured in said direction parallel to said upper surface of said plate, such that said peripheral portion will rest on an area of said plate surrounding said concavity thereof, whereby said plate and cup will remain very stable and said cup will resist tipping when said cup and said plate are mated.