Paper plate beverage holder

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a paper plate includes a section of overlap that is attached to a portion of the rim of the paper plate and an extended portion that is generally disposed on the same plane as the rim and which extends beyond the original size of the plate. The extended portion includes a circular cutout for receiving a beverage container therein. The extended portion includes a pair of beverage support members that are adapted to pivot beneath the circular cutout. A third beverage support member is pivotally attached at a lower end of each of the pair of beverage support members and, when disposed under the circular cutout, forms a shelf to support the beverage container. A modified apparatus is formed as an integral part of the plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A paper plate beverage holder adapted for use with a paper plate, comprising: 
 (a) means for holding a beverage container; and    (b) means for attaching said means for holding a beverage container to said paper plate.    
     
     
         2 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 1  wherein said means for attaching includes an adhesive.  
     
     
         3 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive is applied to a portion of said means for holding and including a peel-off strip that is applied over said adhesive.  
     
     
         4 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 1  wherein said means for attaching includes forming said paper plate beverage holder as an integral part of said paper plate.  
     
     
         5 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 1  wherein said means for holding a beverage container includes: 
 (a) a substantially planar member including a portion thereof that is adapted to be attached to said paper plate; and  
 (b) an opening in said planar member that is adapted for receiving at least a portion of said beverage container therein.  
 
     
     
         6 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 5  wherein said portion that is adapted to be attached to said paper plate includes a section of overlap that is adapted to be attached to at least a portion of a rim of said paper plate.  
     
     
         7 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 6  wherein said section of overlap includes an adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 7  including a peel-off strip that is applied over said adhesive, and wherein said peel-off strip is removed from said adhesive prior to applying said section of overlap to said rim.  
     
     
         9 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 5  wherein said planar member includes an extended portion that extends beyond said rim of said paper plate.  
     
     
         10 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 9  wherein said extended portion includes a first edge that begins proximate said paper plate and extend therefrom and an opposite second edge that begins proximate said paper plate and extends therefrom, and wherein said first edge and said second edge each include an opposite end that is disposed distally from said paper plate and wherein an outer periphery of said extended portion is disposed intermediate said opposite end of said first and second edge.  
     
     
         11 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 10  wherein said outer periphery includes a radius.  
     
     
         12 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 10  wherein said opening is circular and wherein said opening is disposed in said extended portion intermediate said rim of said paper plate and said outer periphery.  
     
     
         13 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 12  wherein a portion of said opening is adjacent to said rim.  
     
     
         14 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 10  including means for providing a support under said opening sufficient to retain said beverage container in said opening.  
     
     
         15 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 14  wherein said means for providing a support includes a first beverage support member disposed on a first side of said extended portion and a second beverage support member disposed on an opposite second side of said extended portion and a third beverage support member disposed intermediate said first and second support members, and wherein said first and said second beverage support members are adapted to pivot from a first position that is parallel with respect to a plane of said extended portion into a second position in which a portion of said first and said second beverage support members and said third beverage support member are disposed below said plane, and wherein at least a portion of said third support member is disposed under said opening.  
     
     
         16 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 15  wherein said first support member includes a first end that is pivotally attached to said extended portion and an opposite second end that is pivotally attached to said third support member at a first end thereof, and wherein said second support member includes a first end that is pivotally attached to said extended portion and an opposite second end that is pivotally attached to said third support member at a second end thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 16  including a first score line proximate said first end of said first support member, a second score line proximate said opposite second end of said first support member, a third score line proximate said first end of said second support member and a fourth score line proximate said opposite second end of said second support member and wherein said first, second, third, and forth score lines include means adapted for facilitating a pivoting of said first second and third beverage support members from said first position into said second position.  
     
     
         18 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 17  including a first cut line extending from said first end of said first support member to said opposite second end of said first support member, a second cut line extending from said first end of said second support member to said opposite second end of said second support member, and a third cut line extending from said first cut line to said second cut line.  
     
     
         19 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 1  wherein said beverage holder is formed of paper.  
     
     
         20 . The paper plate beverage holder of  claim 1  wherein said beverage holder is formed of a material other than paper.  
     
     
         21 . A method for providing a support for a beverage container that is adapted for use with a paper plate, comprised of the steps of: 
 (a) providing a paper plate beverage holder adapted for use with a paper plate, comprising: 
 means for holding a beverage container and means for attaching said means for holding a beverage container to said paper plate; and  
   (b) attaching said means for holding a beverage container to said paper plate.