IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0279363
(2006-04-11)
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등록번호 |
US-7726512
(2010-06-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
35 |
초록
▼
An aid for dining in stand-up and similar situations where a person may simultaneously support a plate and a beverage container by a single hand. The invention comprises a universal food holding receptacle that is stably mountable on upright beverage containers of widely diverse shapes and sizes. Th
An aid for dining in stand-up and similar situations where a person may simultaneously support a plate and a beverage container by a single hand. The invention comprises a universal food holding receptacle that is stably mountable on upright beverage containers of widely diverse shapes and sizes. The user holds a lower portion of the beverage container in one hand and uses the other hand for other activities such as taking food items from the food holding receptacle that is supported on the beverage container. The food holding receptacle is stably mounted on the beverage container in loose-fitting relationship so that the receptacle can be repeatedly mounted on and demounted from the beverage container in a facile manner while dining. The same food holding receptacle may also be used, after turning upside-down, to stably support beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes.
대표청구항
▼
I claim: 1. A universal food holding receptacle comprising: a receptacle having a first specified food holding orientation, wherein said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation is stably mountable in a loose-fitting relationship on multiple beverage containers, taken one beverag
I claim: 1. A universal food holding receptacle comprising: a receptacle having a first specified food holding orientation, wherein said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation is stably mountable in a loose-fitting relationship on multiple beverage containers, taken one beverage container at a time, each of said beverage containers in its respective specified beverage holding orientation, said multiple beverage containers being of diverse shapes, diverse sizes, or diverse shapes and sizes; and wherein said receptacle further comprises: a base having a hole therethrough, said hole having a first perimeter; a food holding section adjacent said hole when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation; and a collar having an inner surface defined by a first end having a second perimeter that substantially coincides with said first perimeter of said hole such that said collar is joined to said base in a substantially fixed relationship and a second end having a third perimeter that is smaller than said first perimeter and said second perimeter. 2. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said multiple beverage containers comprise bottles, cans, stemware glasses, non-stemware glasses, cups and mugs. 3. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is disposed to be freely supported on any one of said beverage containers. 4. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1, wherein said collar is further configured to extend upwardly from said base when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation, and said collar is suitably disposed to rest on an upper portion of the outer surface of said multiple beverage containers, taken one beverage container at a time, each beverage container in its specified beverage holding orientation and capable of partially penetrating said hole from underneath said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation, said inner surface extending vertically above said hole when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation and resting on each of said beverage containers. 5. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 4 wherein said receptacle is readily rotatable in a spinning manner relative to said beverage container about a vertical axis while said receptacle is stably mounted on said beverage container. 6. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said collar has a restricting means that limits the extent to which said beverage container in said beverage holding orientation can enter said collar from beneath said receptacle when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation. 7. The receptacle as described in claim 4 said collar having a chamber bound by said inner surface, wherein said inner surface is sized and contoured such that said chamber accommodates the upper portions of many beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes, when said food holding receptacle is stably mounted on said beverage containers, taken one beverage container at a time. 8. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said base has a rim at said outer edge, said rim joined to and extending upwardly from said base when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation. 9. The universal food holding receptacle as described in claim 4 wherein said receptacle is selected from one of a plate, a bowl, a dish, or a tray. 10. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said base generally conforms to a shape selected from the group of geometries consisting of circular, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and dumbbell, each with a hole therethrough. 11. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 4 wherein said receptacle is one of a set of substantially similar receptacles and wherein said substantially similar receptacles are stackable such that the upward facing surface of one receptacle is complementary to the downward facing surface of an adjacent receptacle. 12. The food holding receptacle of claim 4, wherein said receptacle is one of a set of substantially similar receptacles and wherein said substantially similar receptacles are stackable such that said receptacles nest when said receptacles are placed one on top of another. 13. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 4 wherein said receptacle has a second specified food holding orientation, said second specified food holding orientation obtained by rotating said receptacle essentially 180° with respect to said first specified food holding orientation about a horizontal axis, and wherein a beverage container in its specified beverage holding orientation is stably supportable on said food holding receptacle in said second specified food holding orientation. 14. The receptacle as described in claim 13 wherein a frusto-conical cup is stably supportable on said food holding receptacle in said second specified food holding orientation. 15. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 13 wherein said receptacle has a rim at said outer edge, said rim comprising a first segment and a second segment; said first segment joined to and extending above said base when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation, and said second segment joined to and extending above said base when said receptacle is in said second specified food holding orientation, said first segment and said second segment extending completely around said food holding section. 16. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 13 further comprising a circumferential barrier adjacent to and surrounding said hole; said barrier joined to and extending above said base when said receptacle is in said second specified food holding orientation and wherein all parts of said food holding receptacle bear a substantially fixed spatial relationship to each other and wherein said spatial relationship does not change substantially when said beverage container is mounted on said receptacle. 17. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 13 wherein when said beverage container is stably mounted on said receptacle in said second specified food holding orientation, a lower part of said beverage container is surrounded by said inner surface of said collar. 18. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 17 wherein said collar is disposed to function as an insulating means to insulate a user's hand that is gripping said collar from the heat or coldness of said beverage container. 19. The receptacle as described in claim 1, further comprising a separate collar insert to facilitate contact between said inner surface and part of the outer surface of a beverage container upon which said receptacle is mounted, said collar insert comprising: tubular segment that is open at both ends, an internal surface and an external surface; said external surface of said insert is generally complementary to said inner surface of said collar of said receptacle; and whereby said insert can be lodged within said collar to act as a cushioning means for portions of beverage containers that are inserted into said collar. 20. The receptacle as described in claim 4 in combination with a connector unit to facilitate mounting said receptacle on a beverage container; said connector unit comprising a tubular segment having a lower end and an upper end; said lower end of said connector unit disposed to engage an upper portion of said beverage container in a leak-proof manner; and said inner surface disposed to rest on said upper end of said connector unit, said inner surface extending vertically above said hole when said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation is resting on said connector unit and said connector unit is engaged with said beverage container. 21. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation is devoid of any member or members downwardly extending from said base for stabilizing said receptacle on said beverage container. 22. The receptacle as described in claim 4 wherein said inner surface is specially contoured such that for each of said beverage containers of diverse shapes, diverse sizes or diverse shapes and sizes there is a favorably disposed suspension region on said inner surface for stably supporting said receptacle on each of said beverage containers. 23. In a food holding receptacle for mounting on a beverage container held in a user's hand, said receptacle having a first specified food holding orientation, said receptacle having a rim that is upwardly oriented when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation, said rim extending around the outer edge of said receptacle, the improvement comprising the ability of said receptacle, in said first specified food holding orientation, to be stably mounted, in loose-fitting relationship, on multiple beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes, taken one beverage container at a time, wherein each of said beverage containers is in its respective beverage holding orientation and whereby said receptacle can be repeatedly mounted on and demounted from the beverage container in a facile manner; and wherein said receptacle further comprises: a base having a hole therethrough, said hole having a first perimeter; a food holding section horizontally adjacent said hole when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation; and a collar having an inner surface defined by a first end having a second perimeter that coincides with said first perimeter of said hole such that said collar is joined to said base in a substantially fixed relationship and a second end having a third perimeter that is smaller than said first perimeter and said second perimeter. 24. In the food holding receptacle as described in claim 23 the improvement further comprising that said receptacle is disposed to be freely mountable on each of said beverage containers. 25. In the food holding receptacle as described in claim 23 the improvement further comprising that all parts of said receptacle bear a substantially fixed spatial relationship to each other and that said relationship remains substantially unchanged as said receptacle is mounted on and demounted from said beverage containers. 26. In the food holding receptacle as described in claim 23 the improvement further comprising that said receptacle has a second specified food holding orientation, said second specified food holding orientation obtained by rotating said receptacle essentially 180° from said first specified food holding orientation about a horizontal axis. 27. In combination, a food holding receptacle and a beverage container, said receptacle having a first specified food holding orientation, said beverage container having a specified beverage holding orientation, said beverage container being one of multiple beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes, wherein said receptacle is stably mountable, in a loose fitting relationship, on each of said multiple beverage containers, taken one beverage container at a time, said receptacle comprising: a base; a hole through said base, said hole having a first perimeter; and said hole being only partially penetratable by each of said multiple beverage containers; said base having a food holding section when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation; a collar joined to said base, said collar extending upwardly from said perimeter when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation; said collar provided with an inner surface defined by a first end having a second perimeter that coincides with said first perimeter of said hole such that said collar is joined to said base in a substantially fixed relationship and a second end having a third perimeter that is smaller than said first perimeter and said second perimeter, said inner surface having a universally accommodating form disposed to rest on, and partially surround, a portion of the outer surface of each of said multiple beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes, taken one beverage container at a time, said inner surface extending vertically above said hole when said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation is mounted on said beverage container in said beverage holding orientation; and whereby a single food holding receptacle of specific dimensions is stably mountable on said multiple beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes, taken one beverage container at a time. 28. The combination as described in claim 27 wherein said collar has a restricting means preventing the complete passage of each of said beverage containers through said collar when said beverage containers in their specified beverage holding orientation are inserted into said collar from underneath said receptacle in its first specified food holding orientation, said restricting means located above level of said base when said food holding receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation, and said restricting means having a cross-sectional area that is less than cross-sectional area of said hole. 29. The combination as described in claim 27 wherein bristles protrude from at least part of said inner surface. 30. An arrangement wherein both a beverage container and a food holding receptacle are simultaneously supported by a single hand of a diner wherein said beverage container, in its specified beverage holding orientation, is held in the diner's hand and said receptacle, in its specified food holding orientation, is stably mounted on said beverage container in loose fitting relationship, said beverage container being one of multiple beverage containers of diverse shapes, diverse sizes, or diverse shapes and sizes, said receptacle stably mountable on each of said multiple beverage containers taken one at a time; and wherein said receptacle further comprises: a base having a hole therethrough, said hole having a first perimeter; a food holding section horizontally adjacent said hole when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation; and a collar having an inner surface defined by a first end having a second perimeter that coincides with said first perimeter of said hole such that said collar is joined to said base in a substantially fixed relationship and a second end having a third perimeter that is smaller than said first perimeter and said second perimeter. 31. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein when said receptacle is stably mounted on said beverage container the only force to be overcome in separating said receptacle from said beverage container is essentially the force of gravity alone acting on said receptacle. 32. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is stably mountable on said beverage container in the absence of each of a press-fit connection, a snap-on connection, a screw-on connection and a twist-on connection between said receptacle and said beverage container. 33. The receptacle, mountable on multiple beverage containers as described in claim 1, regardless of whether or not said beverage containers have a protruding lip, tab, or threading at their upper end. 34. The arrangement as described in claim 30 wherein said receptacle is stably mountable on said beverage container in the absence of each of a press-fit connection, a snap-on connection, a screw-on connection, and a twist-on connection between said receptacle and said beverage container. 35. The arrangement as described in claim 30 wherein said beverage container is devoid of each of a lip, a tab and threading that specifically engages or interlocks with a part of said receptacle. 36. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said collar is configured to extend upwardly from said base when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation, and wherein said inner surface of said collar is generally bottle-shaped comprising a neck section, a shoulder section and a body section in unitary combination; said neck section merging into said shoulder section of larger cross-sectional area, said shoulder section merging into said body section of still larger cross-sectional area, and wherein the end of said body section distal to said neck section comprises said first end of said collar. 37. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said collar is configured to extend upwardly from said base when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation, and wherein said inner surface of said collar is bottle-shaped, at least in part, comprising a shoulder section and a body section in unitary combination; said shoulder section merging into said body section of larger cross-sectional area, and wherein the end of said body section distal to said shoulder section comprises said first end of said collar. 38. The collar as described in claim 36 wherein all horizontal inner cross sections of the collar are substantially circular and the internal dimensions of the collar are selected from the group of dimensions consisting of Set A (3.25, 1.37), (3.00, 1.38), (2.75, 1.48), (2.50, 1.65), (2.25, 1.93), (2.00, 2.19), (1.75, 2.36), (1.50, 2.45), (1.25, 2.50), (1.00, 2.56), (0.75, 2.62), (0.50, 2.63), (0.25, 2.64), (0.00, 2.65); Set B (2.75, 1.48), (2.50, 1.65), (2.25, 1.93), (2.00, 2.19), (1.75, 2.36), (1.50, 2.45), (1.25, 2.50), (1.00, 2.56), (0.75, 2.62), (0.50, 2.63), (0.25, 2.64), (0.00, 2.65); and Set C (2.75, 1.37), (2.50, 1.38), (2.25, 1.50), (2.00, 1.68), (1.75, 1.94), (1.50, 2.19), (1.25, 2.37), (1.00, 2.44), (0.75, 2.62), (0.50, 2.63), (0.25, 2.64), (0.00, 2.65), where the first term in each bracketed pair refers to the vertical distance in inches from first end of said collar when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation and the second term provides the corresponding internal diameters of the collar in inches. 39. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus/minus 0.02 inches. 40. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus/minus 0.05 inches. 41. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus/minus/minus 0.10 inches. 42. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus/minus 0.20 inches. 43. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus 0.30 inches. 44. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus/minus 0.50 inches. 45. The collar as described in claim 38 wherein each of said second terms has a tolerance of about plus/minus 0.75 inches. 46. The receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein all parts of said receptacle bear a substantially fixed spatial relationship to each other and wherein said relationship remains substantially the same regardless of whether said receptacle is mounted on said beverage containers or not mounted on said beverage containers. 47. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein said collar is a permanent feature of substantially invariant shape. 48. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1 wherein the loose-fitting relationship is characterized in that the receptacle will fall off the beverage container on which it is properly mounted upon inversion of said beverage container. 49. A universal food holding receptacle that facilitates supporting both said receptacle and an upright beverage container by a single hand of a diner in stand-up and similar dining situations, all parts of said receptacle being in fixed spacial relationship relative to each other before and during mounting of said receptacle on, and during and after demounting of said receptacle from, said beverage container, said receptacle comprising: a dining plate having a first specified food holding orientation and a second specified food holding orientation, wherein said second specified food holding orientation is obtained by rotating said receptacle when in said first specified food holding orientation essentially 180° about a horizontal axis; said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation stably mountable on an upright beverage container that is held by a diner's hand, and, said receptacle, in said second specified food holding orientation, able to stably support an upright beverage container when said receptacle is held by a diner's hand; and wherein said receptacle further comprises: a base having a hole therethrough, said hole having a first perimeter; a food holding section horizontally adjacent said hole when said receptacle is in said first specified food holding orientation; and a collar having an inner surface defined by a first end having a second perimeter that coincides with said first perimeter of said hole such that said collar is joined to said base in a substantially fixed relationship and a second end having a third perimeter that is smaller than said first perimeter and said second perimeter. 50. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 49 wherein said receptacle in said first specified food holding orientation is stably mountable in loose-fitting relationship on said upright beverage container. 51. In combination a beverage container and a universal food holding receptacle, wherein said receptacle comprises: a base having a hole therethrough, said hole having a first perimeter; a food holding section horizontally adjacent said hole when said receptacle is in a first specified food holding orientation; a collar having an inner surface defined by a first end having a second perimeter that substantially coincides with said first perimeter of said hole such that said collar is joined to said base in a substantially fixed relationship and a second end having a third perimeter that is smaller than said first perimeter and said second perimeter; wherein when said receptacle is in a receptacle having said first specified food holding orientation it is mounted in loose-fitting relationship on said beverage container, which has a first end and a second end, said beverage container being at least one of a beverage can, a stemware glass, a non-stemware glass, a mug and a frusto-conical cup; wherein said receptacle is substantially invariant in shape during its use in dining; and wherein said inner surface of said container is configured to engage said first end of said beverage container between said first end of said collar and said second end of said collar such that no part of said beverage container extends through said second end of said collar. 52. In the food holding receptacle of claim 23 wherein said receptacle is predisposed to be stably mountable in loose-fitting relationship, on multiple beverage containers, taken one beverage container at a time, and wherein said receptacle is substantially invariant in shape during its use in dining. 53. The receptacle as described in claim 37 wherein when said receptacle is stably mounted on a beverage container said shoulder section rests freely on a section of said beverage container. 54. The receptacle as described in claim 36 wherein the internal dimensions of said collar are based on the external dimensions of a master template having the following dimensions in inches: column A: column B 6.00 1.51 5.75 1.52 5.50 1.52 5.25 1.53 5.00 1.53 4.75 1.53 4.50 1.71 4.25 1.92 4.00 2.13 3.75 2.32 3.50 2.49 3.25 2.61 3.00 2.69 2.75 2.72 2.50 2.72 2.25 2.72 2.00 2.72 1.75 2.72 1.50 2.72 1.25 2.72 1.00 2.72 0.75 2.72 0.50 2.72 0.25 2.72 0.00 2.72 where column A contains values associated with the distance above the base of said template and column B gives the corresponding cross-sectional diameters, and wherein the internal dimensions of said collar are chosen to correspond to any half-inch or longer segment from column A that is suitable for being stably mounted on said beverage containers, and where the smallest value chosen from column A corresponds to said first end of said collar and the largest value chosen from column A corresponds to end of said collar distal to said first end. 55. The receptacle as described in claim 54 wherein the values in column B have a tolerance of plus/minus 0.05 inches, plus/minus 0.10 inches, plus/minus 0.20 inches, plus/minus 0.30 inches, plus/minus 0.40 inches, plus/minus 0.50 inches, plus/minus 0.60 inches or plus/minus 0.80 inches. 56. The receptacle as described in claim 37 wherein the internal dimensions of said collar are based on the external dimensions of a master template having the following dimensions in inches: column A: column B 6.00 1.51 5.75 1.52 5.50 1.52 5.25 1.53 5.00 1.53 4.75 1.53 4.50 1.71 4.25 1.92 4.00 2.13 3.75 2.32 3.50 2.49 3.25 2.61 3.00 2.69 2.75 2.72 2.50 2.72 2.25 2.72 2.00 2.72 1.75 2.72 1.50 2.72 1.25 2.72 1.00 2.72 0.75 2.72 0.50 2.72 0.25 2.72 0.00 2.72 where column A contains values associated with the distance above the base of said template and column B gives the corresponding cross-sectional diameters, and wherein the internal dimensions of said collar are chosen to correspond to any half-inch or longer segment from column A that is suitable for being stably mounted on said beverage containers, and where the smallest value chosen from column A corresponds to said first end of said collar and the largest value chosen from column A corresponds to end of said collar distal to said first end. 57. The receptacle as described in claim 56 wherein the values in column B have a tolerance of plus/minus 0.05 inches, plus/minus 0.10 inches, plus/minus 0.20 inches, plus/minus 0.30 inches, plus/minus 0.40 inches, plus/minus 0.50 inches, plus/minus 0.60 inches or plus/minus 0.80 inches. 58. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1, further comprising a connector having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion also having an aperture, said lower portion adapted to interconnect to a frusto-conical cup and said upper portion for engagement with said inner surface of said collar. 59. The food holding receptacle as described in claim 1, further comprising an insert for removable engagement within said collar, said insert adapted to receive the beverage container. 60. In the food holding receptacle as described in claim 23 wherein said multiple beverage containers include bottles, cans, non-stemware glasses, stemware glasses and cups. 61. The combination as described in claim 27 wherein said multiple beverage containers comprise bottles, cans, non-stemware glasses, stemware glasses and cups.
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