MEAL PLATE WITH INTEGRATED DRINK HOLDER

Abstract

A meal plate having a bowl section adapted to hold food and an integrated cup holder adapted to hold a cup, bottle, can, or other beverage container. The integrated cup holder may be flexible and expandable to accommodate different sizes of beverage containers. The meal plate may include a lid which can be closed over the bowl section. The bowl section may include a plurality of compartments defined by one or more interior dividers. The meal plate may be constructed from one or more of a variety of materials, such as paperboard, molded fiber, molded pulp, thermoformed fiber, paper pulp, Styrofoam, or plastic, and may be disposable or reusable, as desired.

Claims

1. A meal plate, comprising: an integrated cup holder, the meal plate comprising a bowl section, the bowl section comprising a bowl section base and a plurality of sidewalk, the plurality of sidewalls extending upward from the bowl section base and terminating in a bowl section rim, the plurality of sidewalls defining a cavity adapted to hold a food item; the integrated cup holder comprising a cup holder section rim and a plurality of sidewalls extending downward from the cup holder section rim, the plurality of side ails defining a hole adapted to hold a beverage container, the integrated cup holder being constructed from a flexible material and configured to hold a beverage container having a diameter greater than a width of the hole adapted to hold the beverage container; wherein the meal plate has a plurality of sides, wherein the bowl section is arranged along at least two sides of the meal plate such that a plurality of sidewalls of the bowl section are arranged proximately to the plurality of sides of the meal plate, and wherein the integrated cup holder is arranged along a third side of the meal plate such that at least one sidewall of the integrated cup holder is arranged proximately to the third side of the meal plate.

2. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the bowl section and the integrated cup holder are connected by a shared rim, the shared rim being a part of the bowl section rim and a part of the cup holder section rim, the bowl section rim defining an outermost boundary of the bowl section and the cup holder section rim defining an outermost boundary of the integrated cup holder.

3. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the integrated cup holder has a piriform shape having a rounded end and a pointed end, the pointed end disposed in a corner of the meal plate and the rounded end disposed on a side of the meal plate not adjoining the corner.

4. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the meal plate has a quadrilateral shape having four sides, two sides extending in a length direction and two sides extending in a width direction; and wherein the bowl section is arranged along the two sides in the length direction and a first side in the width direction, and wherein the integrated cup holder is arranged along a second side in the width direction.

5. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the bowl section further comprises an interior divider, the interior divider extending from a first bowl section sidewall in the plurality of sidewalls of the bowl section to a second bowl section sidewall in the plurality of sidewalls of the bowl section, the interior divider defining a bowl section cavity on either side of the interior divider.

6. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the meal plate is constructed from at least one of paperboard, molded fiber, molded pulp, thermoformed fiber, paper pulp, Styrofoam, or plastic.

7. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the integrated cup holder further comprises an integrated cup holder base, the plurality of sidewalls of the cup holder section extending downward to and terminating at the integrated cup holder base, and wherein the hole adapted to hold a beverage container is a blind hole.

8. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls of the cup holder section terminate in a lower cup holder section rim, and wherein the hole adapted to hold a beverage container is a through hole.

9. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the meal plate further comprises a lid.

10. The meal plate of claim 9, wherein the meal plate further comprises a hinged connection between the bowl section rim and the lid.

11. The meal plate of claim 10, wherein the hinged connection comprises a living hinge.

12. The meal plate of claim 9, wherein the lid comprises a lid rim adapted to contact the bowl section rim in a sealed connection.

13. The meal plate of claim 12, wherein the lid rim comprises a tongue protrusion extending outward from the lid rim in the direction of the bowl section rim, and wherein the bowl section rim has a groove adapted to accommodate the tongue protrusion of the lid rim.

14. The meal plate of claim 9, wherein the lid of the meal plate has a shape identical to the bowl section, and wherein the lid of the meal plate is configured to completely enclose the bowl section when closed and is configured to expose the integrated cup holder when closed.

15. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the meal plate is constructed from a material of uniform thickness, and has a lower side wherein an outer bowl section extends downward from the bowl section rim, the outer bowl section having a shape identical to the cavity defined by the plurality of sidewalls of the bowl section.

16. The meal plate of claim 7, wherein the meal plate is constructed from a material of uniform thickness, and has a lower side wherein a lower integrated cup holder base extends downward from the cup holder section rim, the lower integrated cup holder base having a shape identical to the blind hole defined by the plurality of sidewalls of the cup holder section.

17. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls of the cup holder section are straight.

18. The meal plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls of the cup holder section are sloped inwardly, such that a lower cup holder section rim. is smaller than the cup holder section rim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1A is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate with an integrated cupholder, shown in an illustrative view.

[0023] FIG. 1B is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate with an integrated cupholder and interior divider, shown in an illustrative

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate with an integrated cupholder, shown in a perspective view.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate with an integrated cupholder, having a cup inserted into the cupholder, shown in an illustrative view.

[0026] FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate with an integrated cupholder, having a cup inserted into the cupholder, shown in a perspective view.

[0027] FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate having a lid and having a cup inserted into the cupholder, shown in an illustrated interior view.

[0028] FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate having a lid and having a cup inserted into the cupholder, shown in a perspective interior view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments maybe devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows.

[0030] As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0031] According to an exemplary embodiment, and referring generally to the Figures, various exemplary implementations of a meal plate having an integrated cupholder may be disclosed. The meal plate may be sized to hold a cup, bottle, can drink, or another size of beverage, and may allow a person to keep hold of both the plate of food and the drink by using only one of their hands, While allowing them to leave their second hand free to eat.

[0032] In some exemplary embodiments, the meal plate may be constructed from any appropriate material or combination of materials. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may be intended to be disposable, and may be constructed from one or more of paperboard, molded fiber, molded pulp, thermoformed fiber, paper pulp, Styrofoam, plastic, or any other low-cost material. In another exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may be intended to be washable or otherwise reusable, and may be constructed from one or more of plastic, metal (such as aluminum), or another washable and durable material. In another exemplary embodiment, components of the meal plate may be intended to he reusable and components of the meal plate may be intended to be disposable; for example, in an exemplary embodiment, a restaurant may wish to use hard plastic meal plates that are configured to hold one or more paperboard liners, which are configured to be removed and discarded.

[0033] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 1A, FIG. 1A displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, a bowl section inner portion 2 may be a larger section of the plate, which may, in some exemplary embodiments, be configured to hold food. Specifically, FIG. 1A may show a top interior view of this larger section. The bowl section inner portion 2 may include a cavity 14 extending inward into the bowl, which may be ringed by a rim 16 extending around the perimeter of the bowl section inner portion.

[0035] In some exemplary embodiments, the bowl section inner portion 2 may be provided in a variety of sizes. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the bowl section inner portion 2 may be provided in a small size, a medium size, or a large size (or any other appropriate sizes); in some exemplary embodiments, these bowl section inner portions 2 may be part of, respectively, a small plate, a medium plate, and a large plate.

[0036] In some exemplary embodiments, the cup section inner portion 6 may be provided in the same size or in substantially the same size on all different models of the plate. In other exemplary embodiments, the cup section inner portion 6 may vary alongside the bowl section inner portion 2; for example, a plate with a larger bowl section inner portion 2 may likewise be provided with a larger cup section inner portion 6. (For example, a smaller meal plate having a smaller bowl section inner portion 2 and a smaller cup section inner portion 6 may be provided as a child-sized meal plate, and a larger meal plate having a larger bowl section inner portion 2 and a larger cup section inner portion 6 may be provided as an adult-sized meal plate.) In some other exemplary embodiments, meal plates may be provided in similar sizes to one another even if the size of the bowl section inner portion 2 is varied between different configurations of meal plates. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the size of the cup section inner portion 6 may be varied based on the amount of space left on the meal plate, with larger cup section inner portions 6 being provided together with smaller bowl section inner portions 2.

[0037] In some exemplary embodiments, the bowl section inner portion 2 may be divided into multiple compartments by one or more interior dividers. For example, a bowl section inner portion 2 may have two or more compartments, which may be intended for different types of food, and may prevent the different types of food from mixing with one another.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section outer portion 4, Which may extend downward from the rim 16 of the meal plate and which may enclose the cavity 14 of the bowl section inner portion 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the bowl section outer portion 4 may have a uniform or substantially uniform thickness, such that the geometry of the bowl section inner portion 2 is mirrored by the bowl section outer portion 4. In other exemplary embodiments, the bowl section outer portion 4 may have a non-uniform thickness such that the geometry of the bowl section inner portion 2 is not mirrored by the bowl section outer portion 4. For example, it may in some exemplary embodiments be desirable to have a meal plate that is uniformly flat across the entire lower portion of the meal plate, and in such embodiments the bowl section outer portion 4 may be thicker near the rim 16 and thinner near the bottom of the cavity 14 such that the bowl section outer portion 4 forms a uniformly flat lower surface for the meal plate.

[0039] In an exemplary embodiment, the cup section inner portion 6 may be a smaller section of the plate, which may be configured to hold a beverage. Specifically, FIG. 1 may show a top interior view of this smaller section. The cup section inner portion 6 may include a cavity 18 extending inward into the bowl, which may be ringed by a rim 20 extending around the perimeter of the cup section inner portion 6.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the cup section inner portion 6 may be configured to hold at least one size of beverage. In some embodiments, the cup section inner portion 6 may be configured to hold multiple sizes of beverage. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the cup section inner portion 6, and specifically the rim 20 thereof, may be expandable or contractible in order to accommodate different sizes of beverage container. Alternatively, the cup section inner portion 6 may have an insert portion which may hold a beverage and which may be expanded, contracted, or replaced if it is desired to replace the beverage with a different size of beverage. This may ensure that the cup section inner portion 6 may fit tightly around a cup, bottle, or can (or any other beverage) that is placed into the cup section inner portion 6.

[0041] According to an exemplary embodiment, a meal plate may have a cup section outer portion 8, which may extend downward from the rim 20 of the meal plate and which may surround the cup section inner portion 6. In an exemplary embodiment, a cup section outer portion 8 may have a fully or partially solid bottom, which may allow the cup section to hold a variety of sizes of small cups that may not be large enough to be disposed snugly within the cup section inner portion. (In some exemplary embodiments, the bottom of the cup section outer portion 8 may be stiff or flexible, may be flat or rounded, may be continuous or may have one or more holes, or may have any other features, as may be desired.)

[0042] In another exemplary embodiment, the cup section outer portion 8 may have no bottom, and an opening may extend through the meal plate from the cup section inner portion 6 through the cup section outer portion 8. In an exemplary embodiment, a user may be able to place a beverage container within the cup section inner portion 6 in such a way that the cup section inner portion 6 expands, contracts, or shifts to accommodate the beverage container, such that the beverage container fits snugly within the cup section inner portion 6. In an exemplary embodiment, this may allow the meal plate to accommodate a wide variety of anticipated beverages, such as a cup (such as an eight or sixteen-ounce cup), a can, or a bottle, beverage, or any other potential beverage, as may be desired.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the cup section outer portion 8 may be constructed from the same material as the remainder of the meal plate. In another exemplary embodiment, a different type of material may he used, for this component or for any other components, as may be desired. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, portions of a meal plate other than a cup section outer portion 8 may be constructed from a rigid and inflexible material (such as a hard plastic) and the cup section outer portion 8 may be constructed from a more flexible material (such as another type of plastic). In an exemplary embodiment, if a cup section outer portion 8 is constructed from a different material, it may be provided as an insert or may otherwise be coupled to the other components of the meal plate, such as may be desired.

[0044] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 1B, FIG. 1B displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate, which may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8. According to an exemplary embodiment, the bowl section inner portion 2 may be divided into multiple compartments with one or more interior dividers, such as interior divider 26.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, interior divider 26 may he any height or width. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, an interior divider 26 may extend from the base of the bowl section inner portion 2 to the top of the bowl section inner portion 2, while in another exemplary embodiment the interior divider 26 may extend from the base of the bowl section inner portion 2 to a point below the top of the bowl section inner portion 2.

[0046] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 2, FIG. 2 displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate, which in this case may be shown as a perspective view rather than as an illustrative view. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8.

[0047] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 3, FIG. 3 displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate with an integrated cupholder, having a cup 22 inserted into the cupholder, shown in an illustrative view. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8.

[0048] According to an exemplary embodiment, a cup 22 may be inserted into a cup section inner portion 6 from the top of the cup section inner portion 6. In an exemplary embodiment, the cup 22 may have a constant-diameter body ending in a larger-diameter lip. In such an embodiment, the cup 22 may be inserted into the cup section inner portion 6 such that the majority of the cup body has passed through the cup section inner portion 6, and such that the cup 22 is retained by the cup lip, which may be configured to rest on either side of the rim 20 of the cup section inner portion 6.

[0049] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 4, FIG. 4 displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate having a cup, which in this case may be shown as a perspective view rather than as an illustrative. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8.

[0050] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 5, FIG. 5 displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate having a lid and having a cup 22 inserted into the cupholder, shown in an illustrated interior view. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8.

[0051] According to an exemplary embodiment, the lid of the meal plate may have an outer portion 12 and an inner portion 10; the inner portion 10 may be ringed by a lid rim 26. In some exemplary embodiments, the lid may be detached, may be detachable, or may be hinged or otherwise coupled to the base portion of the meal plate. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the lid may be provided as a contiguous body along with the base portion of the meal plate, may be constructed from the same material as the base portion of the meal plate, and may be connected by a living hinge to the base portion of the meal plate. In another exemplary embodiment, the lid and base portion of the meal plate may be separate components coupled by a hinge.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the lid of the meal plate may be configured to interface with the rim 16 of the bowl section inner portion 2, such that the rim of the lid 26 (or another part of the lid) and the rim 16 of the bowl section inner portion 2 join to create a seal. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, a “tongue-and-groove” seal may be used; the rim of the lid 26 may have a “tongue” protrusion that extends in the direction of the rim 16 of the bowl section inner portion 2, and the rim 16 of the bowl section inner portion 2 may have a “groove” adapted to accommodate the “tongue” protrusion of the rim of the lid 26, such that the “tongue” of the rim 26 of the lid may be placed within the “groove” of the rim 16 of the bowl section inner portion 2 to create a seal. This may help to keep food within the meal plate when it is not in use, and may allow the user of the meal plate to use the meal plate to save food for later by sealing the meal plate (in the fashion of a carry-out container or similar device).

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment, the lid of the meal plate may be configured to interface only with the rim 16 of the bowl section inner portion 2, such that the rim 20 of the cup section inner portion 6 remains exposed even when the lid is closed. This may ensure that the user can open or close the lid even when a drink is situated in the cup section inner portion 6 of the meal plate. This may improve the transportability and ease of use of the meal plate; for example, a user may be able to fill the meal plate with food, add a drink to the meal plate, close the lid to prevent food being expelled from the meal plate, transport the meal plate elsewhere, and reopen the lid without having to remove the drink from the meal plate.

[0054] According to an exemplary embodiment wherein the bowl section inner portion 2 has one or more interior dividers, the inner portion 10 of the lid may have a matching set of interior dividers. Each of these interior dividers may be sized so that, when the lid is closed, the interior dividers disposed in the bowl section inner portion 2 and the interior dividers provided on the inner portion 10 of the lid are flush against one another, such that food disposed in the separate compartments created by the interior dividers is kept fully separate from one another and is not able to pass over the interior dividers of the bowl section inner portion 2.

[0055] Turning now to exemplary FIG. 6, FIG. 6 displays an exemplary embodiment of a meal plate having a lid and having a cup 22 inserted into the cupholder, shown in an perspective interior view. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meal plate may have a bowl section inner portion 2, a bowl section outer portion 4, a cup section inner portion 6, and a cup section outer portion 8.

[0056] The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, features associated with certain configurations of the invention may instead be associated with any other configurations of the invention, as desired.

[0057] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.