US5085391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plate and glass holder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-06-15
•
Granted: 1992-02-04
•
Expires: 2010-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A device for supporting a plate and a beverage container with one hand includes a body of material having a surface with which to support a plate, the body of material being dimensioned and arranged to enable a user to hold the body of material in one hand with the surface in an upwardly facing position. The body of material includes structure for inhibiting lateral movement of the plate while the body of material is so held with the plate on the surface, together with structure for supporting a beverage container next to the plate. The device inhibits lateral movement of the plate by being dimensioned and arranged to cradle the plate, one embodiment taking the form of a shallow, bottomless dish having a peripheral receptacle for the beverage container.
Inventors
- 👤 Irvin A. Berger
- 👤 Barbara J. Berger
- 👤 Neil C. Schneider
- 👤 Karen J. Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:40
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G19/00; A47G19/02; A47G19/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for supporting a plate and a beverage container with just one hand, comprising: a body of material having the form of a circularly shaped bottomless plate approximately the size of a conventional circularly shaped plate to be supported; the body of material defining just one bottomless depression in which to support the plate and just one bottomless opening in which to support a beverage container next to the plate; the body of material also defining an accessway to the bottomless opening, which accessway is dimensioned and arranged to enable passage of the stem of a conventional wine glass to a position such that the stem extends through the opening; and the bottomless depression being so configured that the body of material has an upper surface with a shape generally conforming to the underside of the plate in order to cradle the plate in a close supporting relationship such that a substantial majority of the body of material is disposed beneath the plate in a position generally out of the sight of an individual viewing the device from a position above the plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for supporting a plate and a beverage container with just one hand, comprising: a body of material having the form of a circularly shaped bottomless plate approximately the size of a conventional circularly shaped plate to be supported; the body of material defining just one bottomless depression in which to support the plate and just one bottomless opening in which to support a beverage container next to the plate; the body of material also defining an accessway to the bottomless opening, which accessway is dimensioned and arranged to enable passage of the stem of a conventional wine glass to a position such that the stem extends through the opening; and the bottomless depression being so configured that the body of material has an upper surface with a shape generally conforming to the underside of the plate in order to cradle the plate in a close supporting relationship such that a substantial majority of the body of material is disposed beneath the plate in a position generally out of the sight of an individual viewing the device from a position above the plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein: the bottomless depression includes a central opening extending through the body of material along a first axis; the bottomless opening includes an opening extending through the body of material along a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis; and the first and second axes are spaced apart a distance such that the plate does not overlap the opening when the plate is supported within the depression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the body of material includes at least one bead to increase rigidity of the device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body of material is composed of a thermoplastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is dimensioned and arranges so that it is stackable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is of unitary, one-piece construction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the body of material is just slightly larger than the plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the body of material is circularly shaped with a diameter larger than the diameter of a conventional party plate of predetermined size.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein, the body of material defines at least one depression shaped and dimensioned to receive a portion of the thumb of the user when the device is held in the hand of the user in order to guide placement of the hand of the user on the device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for supporting a plate and a beverage container with just one hand, comprising: a body of material having the form of a circularly shaped bottomless plate approximately the size of a conventional circularly shaped plate to be supported; the body of material defining just one bottomless depression in which to support the plate and just one bottomless opening in which to support a beverage container next to the plate; the bottomless depression being so configured that the body of material has an upper surface with a shape generally conforming to the underside of the plate in order to cradle the plate in a close supporting relationship such that a substantial majority of the body of material is disposed beneath the plate in a position generally out of the sight of an individual viewing the device from a position above the plate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for supporting a plate and a beverage container with just one hand, comprising: a body of material having the form of a circularly shaped bottomless plate approximately the size of a conventional circularly shaped plate to be supported; the body of material defining just one bottomless depression in which to support the plate and just one bottomless opening in which to support a beverage container next to the plate; the bottomless depression being so configured that the body of material has an upper surface with a shape generally conforming to the underside of the plate in order to cradle the plate in a close supporting relationship such that a substantial majority of the body of material is disposed beneath the plate in a position generally out of the sight of an individual viewing the device from a position above the plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2307882A
Cited
US2886225A
Cited
US2916180A
Cited
FR2297023A1
Cited
US3955672A
Cited
US4516685A
Cited
US4461396A
Cited
US4607758A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-03 | 1995-08-05 | 1996-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-08-05 | 2000-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-03 | 2003-08-05 | 2004-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |