Attachable Beverage Niche Cooperates for a System to manage Food and Drink

Abstract

This invention is an inexpensive beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink. Provided as a separate entity for attachment, this is a new concept. Affixed to a food tray or paper food boat, it helps secure a beverage container such as a beer tasting glass from sliding, tipping, and contacting with food also carried on the tray. The invention's attachable beverage niche facilitates carrying food and drink in one hand, while releasing the other hand from any obligation to continuously hold a drink container.

Claims

1. An attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink, wherein said attachable beverage niche possesses a horizontal cross-sectional profile providing means for encompassing and cooperating with a beverage container and subsequently providing means for enhancing the stability of said beverage container after said beverage niche is attached to a horizontal surface and said beverage container is inserted within said attachable beverage niche.

2. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 1, further comprising: a connective element providing means for attaching and functionally cooperating said beverage niche with a horizontal surface.

3. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 2, further comprising: a horizontal surface which is part of a structure, for example a food tray or paper food boat, said structure providing means for containing and transporting food.

4. An attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a horizontal cross-sectional profile of sufficient dimensions to provide means for congruently encompassing and concordantly cooperating with a beverage container, thereby additionally providing means for enhancing the stability of said beverage container after said beverage niche is secured to a horizontal surface.

5. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 4, further comprising: a connective element providing means for attaching, securing, and functionally integrating said beverage niche with a surface.

6. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 5, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a horizontal cross-sectional profile of sufficient dimensions to provide means for congruently encompassing and concordantly cooperating with beverage containers essentially similar in size to vessels of the type commonly known as tasting glasses, thereby additionally providing means for enhancing the stability of said beverage container after said attachable beverage niche is secured to a surface platform such as a food tray or an example of what is commonly known as a paper food boat; attachment of said beverage container is attained by means of cooperation with a connective element, glue for example, which is rendered operable by action means such as removal of a protective seal or chemical interaction, initiated prior to application of attachable beverage container to said horizontal surface.

7. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 6, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a maximum internal horizontal diameter of 2.25 inches (5.72 cm) providing means for proximately encompassing said beverage containers commonly known as tasting glasses.

8. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of said attachable beverage niches each having individual association with an adhesive connective element having potential for providing means for attachment of said attachable beverage niche to a tray subsequent to when said plurality of beverage niches are collectively stacked and packaged.

9. An attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink comprising: said attachable beverage niche having a horizontal cross-sectional profile of sufficient dimensions to provide means for congruently encompassing and concordantly cooperating with a beverage container such as the type generically known as a tasting glass, thereby providing means for enhancing the stability of said tasting vessel as said attachable beverage niche is secured to a horizontal surface such as the base of a food tray or paper food boat; said attachable beverage niche with a substantially ring-like shape, generally in the form of a truncated cylinder or hollow cone, whose complete array of cross-sectional profiles may represent various shapes and sizes.

10. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 9, further comprising: a connective element providing means for attaching and functionally integrating said attachable beverage niche with said horizontal surface; said connective element comprising an adhesive.

11. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 10, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche with a plurality of extended elements at its lower periphery, for example base tabs, providing means for facilitating connection and securing of said attachable beverage niche to said horizontal surface.

12. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 11, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having height measured vertically from its base, where said attachable beverage niche adjoins said horizontal surface, greater than 0.1 inch (c. 2.54 mm), providing means for enhancing the stabilization of said beverage container.

13. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 12, further comprising: said attachable beverage niche having sides canted outwardly from vertical at an angle greater that one degree of arc, as said sides rise from the base of said beverage niche, providing means for facilitating the insertion of said beverage container into said attachable beverage niche.

14. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of beverage niches, providing means for enhancing stabilization of a plurality of tasting vessels.

15. The attachable beverage niche for a system to manage food and drink of claim 14, further comprising: said beverage niche having a horizontal profile at its base with a maximum internal diameter of 2.25 inches (c. 5.72 cm).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] SHEET 1/4

[0034] FIG. 1perspective view of attachable beverage niche with connective element and connective element seal at its base

[0035] FIG. 2perspective view of attachable beverage niches in a nested stack

[0036] FIG. 3perspective view of attachable beverage niche affixed to a food tray thereby stabilizing a beverage container

[0037] SHEET 2/4

[0038] FIG. 4top view of attachable beverage niche affixed to a food tray

[0039] SHEET 3/4

[0040] FIG. 5side view of beverage container

[0041] FIG. 6side view of attachable beverage niche affixed within a food tray

[0042] FIG. 7end view of attachable beverage niche affixed within a food tray

[0043] SHEET 4/4

[0044] FIG. 8perspective view of attachable beverage niche with base tabs

[0045] FIG. 9perspective view nested stack of attachable beverage niches with base tabs

[0046] FIG. 10end view of paper food boat

[0047] FIG. 11side view of a paper food boat

[0048] FIG. 12perspective view of attachable beverage niche with base tabs affixed on a paper food boat stabilizing a beverage container

ELEMENTS

[0049] 1. Attachable Beverage Niche [0050] 2. Connective Element [0051] 3. Connective Element Seal [0052] 4. Food Tray [0053] 5. Beverage Container [0054] 6. Paper Food Boat [0055] 7. Attachable Beverage Niche with Base Tabs [0056] 8. Base Tab

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] Although the following description provides specific examples, these are not intended in any way to limit application and uses of the invention. There is no intention to be bound by any concept described in the preceding background, summary, or in what follows as the detailed description. It is understood that changes may be made in the way elements of the embodiments described herein operate, may be arranged, or may be applied without compromising the invention's scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0058] The combination of improvements in the present embodiment of this invention is also applicable for use in other forms and analogous structures. The disclosed set of elements comprises an assembly and configuration specifically suited to circumstances associated with food and beverage consumption, and are not taught in prior art of attachable beverage niche construction.

[0059] The attachable beverage niche in a featured embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a truncated cone having means for self-connection to a surface, for example containers such as food trays or paper food boats having a capacity for holding and transporting food.

[0060] The attachable beverage niche of the present invention may be constructed with a variety of material compositions including inorganic fiber, paper, and other organic materials, bio-degradable substances, metal, plastic, or alternate substances that may become available. Embodiments may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. Methods of manufacturing elements of said invention may be by means of molding, extrusion, stamping, or any other operation deemed appropriate given current state of the art.

[0061] In one particular embodiment seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, beverage niche 1 cooperates with a form of connective element 2 thereby facilitating means for attachment to an embodiment of food tray 4. In this manifestation of connective element 2, glue is pre-applied to the circumferential base of beverage niche 1. Connective element 2 is rendered inoperable as means for attachment until connective element seal 3 is peeled away from the lower surface of connective element 2, prior to attachment of attachable beverage niche 1 to food tray 4. In an alternate embodiment connective element 2 is provided on a plurality of base tabs 8 integrated with attachable beverage niche with base tabs 8, providing means for attachment to either food tray 4 or an alternate form of a food carrying platform such as paper food boat 6, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0062] Attachable beverage niches can be produced substantially in the form of truncated cones or cylinders then sold individually FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, or in nested stack packages holding multiple units FIG. 2 and FIG. 9. Via either offering, the invention is suitable for attachment to food carrying platforms such as trays or food boats provided by individual users or by organizers of events such as beer tastings or picnics where many participants are provided with options to use the invention. Fitted with dedicated adhesive connective elements secured by peel-away connective element seals 3 until their application to a tray, niches may be packaged, transported, and sold in the form of nested stacks FIG. 2 and FIG. 9.

[0063] A range of attachable beverage niche 1 embodiments may be provided, having dimensions respectively appropriate for fitting within their compass various forms of beverage container 5, including varieties of beer and soda cans, plastic water bottles, and examples of the relatively small glassware and cups typically used at tasting events including gatherings featuring beer and food pairings. An example of cooperating food tray 4 may include a plurality of compartments. In one such embodiment seen in FIG. 3, a relatively low profile attachable beverage niche 1 is situated on a corner section of food tray 4, separated from other food tray compartments.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, to properly cooperate with beverage container 5, in this case having dimensions in the range of vessels commonly used during beverage tasting events, said attachable beverage niche 1 has an appropriate internal diameter so as to provide means for securing a snug fit with beverage container 5. FIG. 3 shows such an attachable beverage niche 1 fixed to an example of food tray 4. And FIG. 12 presents a view of the attachable beverage niche with base tab 7 connected to paper food boat 6. In this latter example a plurality of base tabs 8, each joined with a connective element 2, are components of attachable beverage niche with tabs 7; providing means for providing additional surface to apply connective element 2. Use of said base tabs 8 or alternate equivalent structures are selectively available, if desired, on other embodiments of the invention.

[0065] Efficiencies in manufacture encourage embodiments of this invention to be commercially available for low-cost discretionary attachment to food containers currently on the market, including various types of trays and food boats. In the style of inexpensive coffee sleeves, the present invention's attachable beverage niche system provides a useful, low-cost adjunct to events involving informal consumption of food and beverages.

Modifications

[0066] While an exemplary embodiment and alternate embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention; and the associated claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, provision would be made for a beverage niche having a cross-sectional profile other than circular, such as square, elliptical, or hexagonal. In other examples, number, configurations, and dimensions of the plurality of elements may vary.

Ramifications and Scope

[0067] The words inner, outer, top, bottom, upper, lower, base, and similar expressions are to be interpreted as relative to embodiments discussed, and cooperating components of the invention, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.

[0068] Embodiments described herein are included for example only. Additional variations of the claimed invention's concepts will be obvious to those skilled in the art, such as adaptation or inclusion of alternative materials.

[0069] Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the present embodiments of this invention. Dimensions of elements, their number, and arrangements within its total composition, as well as variations of lengths and connection positions may be specified by one skilled in the art according to desired usage.

[0070] Although our disclosed system functions in cooperation with several components seen in the prior art, it does not necessarily require all of these.

[0071] The description of the present invention has been made for purposes of revealing particularly useful embodiments. It is not intended to limit the invention to only the disclosed form. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.