US20090065510A1

US20090065510A1 - Plate for Eating While Standing Up

Info

Publication number: US20090065510A1
Application number: US12/278,107
Authority: US
Inventors: Laurence Patrick Wettern
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-03
Filing date: 2007-02-05
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: GB0602155D0; EP1983868A1; GB0617170D0; AU2007210880A1; WO2007088403A1

Abstract

A plate intended for use while standing up is configured to allow the main area of the plate to rest on the forearm of a user, while a user's index finder and thumb grip a holder (15) projecting downwardly from the rim region (13) of the plate. The height of the holder (15) is substantially the same as the height of the rim region (13) of the plate, above the food-holding base area (11) thereof. The holder (15) is configured internally to accommodate a drinking vessel (20) such as a stemmed wine glass, a tumbler, or a can or bottle. The holder (15) is profiled to facilitate the stacking of a plurality of like plates, with the holders partially nested.

Description

This invention relates to a plate suitable for use while standing up, to enable food and drink to be consumed easily, using only one hand.
There exists a number of products to assist eating and drinking whilst standing up. For example, clips which fit to plates are known, which allow a stemmed wine glass to be suspended from the edge of the plate. Also known are flat plates incorporating a round hole with a slot communicating to the edge of the plate, to allow a stemmed wine glass to be inserted into the hole and suspended directly from the plate.
These known products suffer from a number of limitations:—

- 1. The wine glass or other drinking vessel, or even a can or bottle if the clip or plate is appropriately configured, cannot be handled by the same hand as is used to hold the plate, leaving the other hand free for manipulating utensils.
- 2. The plate has to be held by its edge region, so that the effective mass of the plate, food and glass are all further from the person's elbow than his/her hand, so putting excessive stress on the person's hand and arm.
- 3. The plate lacks any form of stop against which food can be pushed to enable easy loading of the food onto a fork or spoon, using only one hand.
- 4. The user has nowhere to put cutlery when serving himself with food or drink.

This invention aims at providing a plate suitable for use while standing up, to facilitate eating and drinking for example at a party, a buffet luncheon and so on.
Accordingly, this invention provides a plate suitable for use while standing up, which plate comprises a base area, a rim region disposed adjacent at least a part of the base area and having an edge disposed at a level above the base area, and a holder projecting downwardly from the rim region towards the level of the base area, the holder defining an internal opening for receiving a part of a drinking vessel (such as a stemmed wine glass, a beaker or tumbler, a can or a bottle) and there being a slot extending from the edge of the rim region into the holder and communicating with the internal opening thereof.
Most preferably, the holder is of rounded external cross-sectional shape and is externally dimensioned for gripping by the thumb and forefinger of a user, with the rounded cross-section located against the web of a user's hand between the thumb and forefinger and so also contacting at least the greater part of the length of each of the thumb and index finger. When gripped in this way, the main area of the plate may be rested on the forearm while the thumb and forefinger grips the external surface of the holder and stabilises the plate in that position on the forearm. This allows the mass of the plate, drinking vessel (such as a stemmed glass or tumbler, can or bottle) and any food carried on the plate primarily to be supported by the forearm of the user, so allowing a relatively relaxed grip on the holder. In turn, this minimises stress on the user and in particular on the user's wrist and fingers.
In one embodiment, the holder defines an elongate opening extending generally perpendicularly to the base area of the plate, which opening is dimensioned to accommodate the stem of a stemmed wine glass. In an alternative embodiment, the holder is of generally cylindrical form and is provided with an in-turned flange having a central opening and which defines the internal opening of the holder. With either embodiment, the holder may define an upwardly-facing concave surface around the opening therein, for receiving the external surface of the bowl of a stemmed wine glass. In this way, the wine glass may be supported by the holder in a particularly stable manner, resistant to spillage or falling from the plate in the event that the arm of the user is accidentally nudged by some other person. Further, at least the index finger of the user's hand gripping the holder may be used to retain the vessel within the holder, and maybe also the other fingers depending upon the nature of the vessel.
Preferably, the holder has a side wall which is internally and externally profiled to allow the plate to be stacked with another like plate, in an at least partially nested manner. For example, the holder may have a side wall which has downwardly tapering internal and external profiles to allow the holder to be at least partially nested in the holder of another like plate, on stacking the plates. Thus, the angle of taper should be selected having regard to the depth of the holder and the wall thickness thereof, to allow such stacking to take place.
In an alternative arrangement, the internal profile of the holder is more cylindrical in order to allow the accommodation of a cylindrical vessel, can, bottle or the like. In this case, the side wall of the holder may have cut out regions adjacent the rim region of the plate, to allow the accommodation of the lower part of the side wall of the holder of another like plate to be stacked with the first plate. Each such cut out region may be in the form of a window through the side wall, the window having a lower edge substantially parallel to the edge of the rim region and the side edges of the window extending generally helically towards the rim region, from said lower edge. Advantageously, there are three such windows the side edges of which are defined by holder side wall portions communicating with the rim region of the plate, respectively to each side of the slot and at a location diametrically opposed to the slot.
Also to assist the nesting, or at least partial nesting, of one plate with another like plate, there may be an inclined surface interconnecting the base area and the rim region of the plate. When only partial nesting is required, as might be the case with a holder provided with windows as described above, the external surface (and normally the under surface) of the plate may be provided with stacking nibs projecting from below the rim region to define a separation between the upper surface of a rim region of one plate and the lower surface of the rim region of another like plate with which said one plate is stacked.
The width of the slot extending from the holder to the edge of the rim region may be narrower than the diameter of the central opening of the in-turned flange. In this way, the slot and central opening together define a general keyhole-shape, adapted to receive the stem of a stemmed wine glass. Preferably however, the width of the slot in the in-turned flange is of substantially constant width. Also, by appropriate dimensioning of the slot and central opening, it may be possible to locate the neck of a bottle in the central opening, so as to be held thereby with the bottle suspended below the holder.
The effective width of the slot may be greater in a vertically-intermediate section of the slot, as compared to the width in the rim region of the plate and at the bottom of the holder. In this way, it may be possible for a user's index finger to engage a part of a drinking vessel located within the holder, so as to impart stability on that vessel and prevent the accidental removal thereof from the holder.
The holder could be made relatively long so as to facilitate gripping by more than just the index finger and thumb of a user. However, it is preferred for the holder to be relatively short so that the lower surface of the in-turned flange is substantially co-planar with the lower surface of the base area of the plate. In this case, the flange is preferably disposed at the lower end of the holder.
In preferred embodiments, the lower surface of the plate between the holder and the base area is concavely rounded to accommodate the wrist region of a user's arm or the first metacarpal region of a user's hand, when gripping the holder. Further, the rim region may be profiled adjacent the holder to permit the retention of eating utensils thereon.

By way of example only, several specific embodiments of plate of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of plate, and showing the engagement of a stemmed wine glass with the holder of the plate;

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of plate being held by a user, with a wine glass located in the holder;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the wine glass being removed from the plate;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1 and shows the first embodiment with food on the base area, a wine glass located in the holder and cutlery positioned on the plate rim;

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates how a fork may be loaded with foodstuffs, by using only the one hand;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of plate, together with a can located in the holder;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of plate, but being used to support a bottle;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment, specifically adapted for holding papers rather than food and so suitable for use for example at a wine tasting event;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are detail views on modifications of the holder of the second embodiment of plate of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of plate;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of two plates as shown in FIG. 11, stacked together and partially nested;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a transverse cross-section through the holder of the plate of FIG. 13.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of plate of this invention. The plate has a substantially flat base area 11 from which projects upwardly and outwardly an inclined wall 12 merging into a rim region 13 having a peripheral edge 14. The rim region 13 is generally planar and parallel to the base area 11, though that rim region may slope downwardly by a small extent, from its rim region to the inclined wall 12, or be slightly dished—i.e. concave when viewed from above.
At one end of the base area 11 the rim region has an extended width, a holder 15 projecting downwardly from the underside of the rim region at this one end. The holder has a generally circular external cross-sectional shape and includes on its external surface one or more protuberances 16 to facilitate the gripping of the holder by a user's thumb and index finger, as shown in FIG. 2.
A slot 17 communicates between the adjacent peripheral edge 14 of the rim region and the holder 15, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The outer wall of the holder 15 is profiled so as to define a generally cylindrical opening 18 in communication with the slot 17, whereby the stem 19 of a wine glass 20 may be passed along the slot 17 and be located in the opening 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper surface of the rim region 13 is bevelled as shown at 21 in FIG. 1, so as to assist the location of the bowl 22 of wine glass 20, to be carried by the plate.
A raised ridge 23 is formed along the edge of the inclined wall 12 nearest the holder 15, so that there is defined an area between the holder 15 and the ridge 23 for the positioning of cutlery, when not in use, as shown in FIG. 4. Further, there is provided a rounded formation 24, concave from below the plate, communicating between the base area of the plate and the rim region nearest the holder 15. This rounded profile provides space below the plate for the accommodation of the first metacarpal bone in the region of a user's wrist and hand, as best appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3. This allows the underside of the base area 11 of the plate easily to be rested on the user's forearm.
In use, the plate is rested on the forearm of a user, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the holder 15 gripped by the thumb and forefinger of the user's hand. The stem of a wine glass may be passed along the slot 17 to enter the opening 18 and is then lowered on to the bevelled edge 21, so that it cannot be removed without an initial vertical lifting movement. The forefinger gripping the holder may be used to close the slot 17, so preventing accidental removal of the glass. In addition, the remaining three fingers of a user's hand may rest lightly on the stem of a glass (see particularly FIG. 2) so as to stabilise the glass within the cylindrical opening 18. When the glass is to be removed, the forefinger may be moved away from the slot 18 as shown in FIG. 3.
When the plate is used at a buffet or similar event, cutlery can be placed against the ridge 23 provided on the upper surface of the rim region of the plate, adjacent the holder 15. This ridge 23 is positioned in such a way so as not to interfere with the stacking of a plurality of the plates.
On the side of the base area 11 furthest from the holder 15, the inclined wall 12 may be made as nearly vertical as is practicable for the manufacturing processes, with a radius of curvature about a vertical axis greater than that to the centre of the plate. This wall 12 provides an effective and easy way for food to be scooped on to a fork or spoon held by one hand of the user, the other hand being used to grip the holder 15 and a glass located in that holder.
Though not illustrated, the configuration and dimensioning of the plate is such that a plurality of the plates may be stacked with one plate being at least partially nested into the next plate in the stack.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of plate, provided with a holder 27 of substantially cylindrical form, both internally and externally and with an in-turned flange 28 at the lower end of the holder. Such a holder may accommodate a can, beaker or tumbler or other generally cylindrical vessels, as well as stemmed wine glasses. This embodiment is still provided with a slot 29 which extends into the flange 28, to allow the introduction of the stem of a wine glass, but the opening in the slot is wider in its middle section than at the rim region of the plate to allow easy access to the drinking vessel through the slot, by the forefinger of a user gripping the holder 27. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer periphery of the holder 27 has two protuberances 30, to facilitate the gripping of the holder by a user's thumb and index finger.
The configuration of plate of FIGS. 6 and 7 may be used to suspend a bottle from the holder, as shown in FIG. 7, so long as the dimensioning of the slot 29 within the in-turned flange is suitable for the bottle. Typically, the size of the central opening of the in-turned flange should be approximately 26 mm in diameter, and the width of the slot corresponding to that, so that the bottle may be moved into the holder and then suspended by a bead conventionally formed around the neck of a glass bottle fitted with a crown cap.
In other respects, the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 corresponds to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 and like features are given like reference numerals; those features will not be described again here.
FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment where the base area of the plate together with the majority of the inclined wall and corresponding rim region are replaced by a substantially flat surface 32 suitable for supporting papers. A known form of spring clip assembly 33 is provided along one edge 34 of the surface 32, to retain papers on that surface. From another edge 35 of the surface 32, an inclined wall 36 projects upwardly and conjoins a rim region 37 provided with a holder 15 corresponding to that of the first embodiment. The vertical depth of the holder 15 corresponds to the rise of the inclined wall 36 so that the plate may be placed stably on a flat surface.
As the holder 15 corresponds to and is used in the same manner as that of the first embodiment, it will not be described in further detail here. However, this embodiment of plate is particularly useful at events such as wine tastings, where a wine glass may be supported in a holder the external surface of which is gripped by one hand of the use, with the flat surface 32 resting on the forearm of that hand, while a user writes notes on papers held by the spring clip assembly 33 on the flat surface 32, using the other hand.
FIG. 9 shows a modification of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the cylindrical holder 40 is defined by four inclined helical elements 41. The configuration of each element 41 enables the corresponding element on another plate to be disposed thereabove, and hence to allow closer nesting of a plurality of the plates than otherwise would be possible were the holder to have a continuous wall, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 10 shows an alternative to the helical elements 41 extending between the rim region of the plate and the internal flange of the holder. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the side wall 42 of the holder tapers inwardly in the downward direction to allow nesting of a plurality of the plates. The side wall 42 is provided with a plurality of windows 43 and in the region of those windows, the base wall of the holder is extended laterally at 44. These windows permit accommodation of the outer edge of the in-turned flange of another like plate, when a plurality of the plates are stacked and also contact between a held container and the index finger and thumb of a user, gripping the holder. The lateral extensions of the base wall serve to ensure the index finger and thumb of the hand gripping the holder do not slip off the holder.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show yet another embodiment of plate similar to that of FIG. 9 but wherein the holder 47 includes a lower peripheral wall 48, with windows 49 formed through the wall of the holder. Additionally, the rim region of the plate immediately surrounding the holder is also relieved in the region of the windows, to an extent sufficient to accommodate the greatest external diameter of the holder. The windows are defined by generally helically extending wall portions 50 each of which extends from a location adjacent the peripheral edge 14 of the rim region 13 downwardly to the lower wall 48. Further, there is another wall portion 51 opposed to slot 29 that wall portion 51 having edges which define the windows 49. Those edges also extend in a generally helical manner.
The holder 47 differs from holder 40 of FIG. 9 in that it may define a strictly parallel cylindrical receptor for a can, whereby the can is held securely within the holder 47. Despite this, two like plates may be stacked and partially nested together, as shown in FIG. 12. The windows are shaped so that the lower part of an upper plate may be accommodated therewithin, with the lower edge of the holder of the upper plate bearing on the lower edges of the windows 49 of the lower plate.
As with the embodiment of FIG. 9, the lower part of the holder is provided with an outwardly-projecting lip 52, to facilitate the gripping of the holder by a user and to minimise the likelihood of the grip accidentally being lost.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show yet another embodiment of holder similar to that shown in FIG. 10. The holder 54 of this embodiment has a base wall 55 extending generally co-planar with the base area of the plate. A connecting side wall 56 is inclined to the axis of the holder 54 and is disposed in opposition to slot 17 entering the base wall. Further, the base wall is connected by link walls 57 extending from the base wall to the rim region 13 of the plate, in opposition to one another and externally of the main part of the holder, these link walls extending at a significant angle to the axis of the holder as best appreciated from FIG. 14. In this way, a pair of relatively large holes 58 are defined between the connecting side wall and the link walls, through which a user's index finger and thumb may contact a vessel (such as a can) located in the holder, and so impart stability to that vessel. Further, since the index finger and thumb will bear directly on the peripheral region of the upper surface of the base wall 55 within the holes 58, the tendency for the finger and thumb to slip away from the holder is greatly minimised.
In a similar manner to that illustrated in FIG. 12, a plurality of plates embodying the holder 54 of this embodiment may be stacked in a partially nested manner.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A plate suitable for use while standing up, which plate comprises a base area defining a first level, a rim region disposed adjacent at least a part of the base area and having an edge disposed at a second level above the first level, and a manually-grippable holder projecting downwardly from the rim region towards the first level, the holder having a side wall which is internally and externally profiled to allow the plate to be stacked in an at least partially nested manner with another like plate, the side wall having cut-out regions to allow accommodation of the lower part of the holder of another like plate on stacking the plates, the holder defining an internal opening for receiving a part of a drinking vessel and there being a slot extending from the edge of the rim region into the holder and communicating with the internal opening thereof.

21. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the holder has an in-turned flange having a central opening defining the internal opening of the holder.

22. A plate as claimed in claim 21, wherein the flange is disposed at the lower end of the holder and is provided with one or more external protuberances to facilitate the gripping of the holder by a user, said cut-out regions accommodating the protuberances when the plates are stacked with the holders at least partially nested.

23. A plate as claimed in claim 22, wherein the flange is substantially co-planar with the first level of the base area.

24. A plate as claimed in claim 23, wherein the flange defines an upwardly-facing concave surface around the central opening, such that in use with a stemmed wine glass having a bowl, said upwardly-facing concave surface receives the external surface of the bowl.

25. A plate as claimed in claim 21, wherein each cut-out region is in the form of a window through the side wall, the window having a lower edge substantially at the level of the flange, parallel to the edge of the rim region and side edges extending generally helically towards the rim region from the lower edge.

26. A plate as claimed in claim 25, wherein there are three windows the side edges of which are defined by holder side wall portions communicating with the rim region respectively to each side of the slot and at a location diametrically opposed to the slot.

27. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the holder is of generally cylindrical form.

28. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the holder defines a receptor for at least one vessel selected from the group consisting of a drinking vessel, a bottle and a can.

29. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the external surface of the plate is provided with stacking nibs projecting from below the rim region to define a separation between the upper surface of a rim region of one plate and the lower surface of the rim region of another like plate with which said one plate is stacked.

30. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the base area has a lower surface and between the holder and the base area, the lower surface is concavely rounded to accommodate the wrist region of a user's arm when gripping the holder.

31. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rim region is profiled adjacent the holder to permit the retention of eating utensils thereon.

32. A plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plate is symmetrical about a line extending through the centre of the internal opening of the holder and through the centre of gravity of the plate.