Cupholding plate

Abstract

A cupholding plate is provided including a stiffened peripheral rim circumscribing the entire plate support surface. Contained within the outer circumference of the plate is a cup retaining orifice, which is itself circumscribed by a stiffened cup support rim. The cup support rim intersects with the peripheral rim at the plate edge, such that both the peripheral rim and the cup support rim can be superimposed about each other along a small arc along their respective circumferences.

1 . A cupholding plate comprising: 
 a plate support surface having a peripheral edge;    a stiffened, circular outer flange rim circumscribing the entire plate support surface at an elevation above the plate support surfaces;    an upwardly curving peripheral rim connecting between said plate support surface and said outer flange;    a pair of partition elements connect at a centerpoint of said plate support surface and radiating out to said outer flange, each partition element having a flat upper apex connecting to said circular outer flange at the flanges elevation, and transitions smoothly to the elevation of the plate support surface by a curving partition sidewall having a similar curvature with the upwardly curving peripheral rim;    said partition elements forming an acute angle at said centerpoint at a base of said partition sidewall such that a first large compartment is formed at the acute angle between the partition elements and the outer flange;    a cup retaining orifice formed within said plate support surface and positioned such as to intersect at the outer circumference of the plate the cup support rim;    a stiffened cup support rim circumscribing said cup retaining orifice;    a third partition element connecting said cup support rim with said flat upper apex of said other partition elements, said third partition element having a flat upper apex that transitions smoothly to the elevation of the plate support surface by a curving partition sidewall having a similar curvature with the upwardly curving peripheral rim; and    a stiffened cup support rim contained within the outer circumference of the plate is a cup retaining orifice and wherein said cup support rim intersects with said peripheral rim at said plate peripheral edge, such that both said peripheral rim and said cup support rim are superimposed about each other along a small arc along their respective circumferences.    
   
   
       2 . The cupholding plate of  claim 1 , wherein said single structural element is formed of a material selected from the group comprising foam, paper, pressed paper, and plastic.  
   
   
       3 . A cupholding plate comprising: 
 a plate support surface having a peripheral edge;    a stiffened, circular outer flange rim circumscribing the entire plate support surface at an elevation above the plate support surfaces;    an upwardly curving peripheral rim connecting between said plate support surface and said outer flange;    a single partition elements bisecting said plate support surface through a centerpoint of said plate support surface between said outer flange, said partition element having a flat upper apex connecting to said circular outer flange at the flanges elevation, and transitions smoothly to the elevation of the plate support surface by a curving partition sidewall having a similar curvature with the upwardly curving peripheral rim;    a cup retaining orifice formed within said plate support surface and positioned such as to intersect at the outer circumference of the plate the cup support rim;    a stiffened cup support rim circumscribing said cup retaining orifice;    a stiffened cup support rim contained within the outer circumference of the plate is a cup retaining orifice and wherein said cup support rim intersects with said peripheral rim at said plate peripheral edge, such that both said peripheral rim and said cup support rim are superimposed about each other along a small arc along their respective circumferences.    
   
   
       4 . The cupholding plate of  claim 3 , wherein said single structural element is formed of a material selected from the group comprising foam, paper, pressed paper, and plastic.  
   
   
       5 . A cupholding plate comprising: 
 a plate support surface having a peripheral edge;    a stiffened, circular outer flange rim circumscribing the entire plate support surface at an elevation above the plate support surfaces;    an upwardly curving peripheral rim connecting between said plate support surface and said outer flange;    a cup retaining orifice formed within said plate support surface and positioned such as to intersect at the outer circumference of the plate the cup support rim;    a stiffened cup support rim circumscribing said cup retaining orifice;    a stiffened cup support rim contained within the outer circumference of the plate is a cup retaining orifice and wherein said cup support rim intersects with said peripheral rim at said plate peripheral edge, such that both said peripheral rim and said cup support rim are superimposed about each other along a small arc along their respective circumferences.    
   
   
       6 . The cupholding plate of  claim 5 , wherein said single structural element is formed of a material selected from the group comprising foam, paper, pressed paper, and plastic.