Combination food and beverage plate combination plate

Abstract

A combination food and beverage plate which permits a user to hold food and beverage containers with a single hand. The combination plate comprises a first section, having at least one recessed compartment, and a second section, having at least one beverage aperture and at least one grip aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the recessed compartment is utilized for containing food items, the beverage aperture is configured with a slot for receiving and holding variously sized and shaped beverage containers, and the grip aperture is configured to engage a person's hand for gripping and holding the combination plate in a single hand.

1 . A combination food and beverage plate for supporting food and beverage containers with a single hand of a person, comprising: 
 a first section, said first section having at least one recessed compartment for containing food items;    a second section, said second section having at least one beverage aperture for engaging beverage containers and at least one grip aperture for engaging a person's hand;    a plate rim, wherein said plate rim connects to the at least one recessed compartment and slopes upward from the recessed compartment to form a periphery of the first section; and    a support rim, wherein said support rim defines the at least one beverage aperture and the at least one grip aperture of the second section.    
   
   
       2 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage aperture comprises a circular configuration, and wherein the beverage aperture further comprises a slot in a portion of the support rim defining the beverage aperture, said slot permitting insertion of variously sized and shaped beverage containers for engagement with the beverage aperture.  
   
   
       3 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 1 , wherein the grip aperture comprises a semi-circular configuration, and wherein the grip aperture is defined by the support rim and an opening in a portion of the support rim, said opening configured with sufficient dimension to permit engagement of a person's hand in the grip aperture.  
   
   
       4 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 2 , wherein the beverage aperture further comprises a tapered sleeve extending down from the support rim, said tapered sleeve configured to aid in receiving and holding a beverage container within the beverage aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 2 , wherein the beverage aperture is not slotted.  
   
   
       6 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 1 , wherein the second section is configured with a grip aperture on either side of the beverage aperture, such that the combination plate may be easily held in a person's left or right hand.  
   
   
       7 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing underside configured to reinforce the recessed food compartment, the beverage aperture and the grip aperture.  
   
   
       8 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 1 , wherein the combination plate is comprised of a plastic material.  
   
   
       9 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 1 , wherein the combination plate is comprised of a paper material.  
   
   
       10 . A combination food and beverage plate for supporting food and beverage containers, comprising: 
 a first section having at least one recessed compartment;    a second section having at least one beverage aperture and at least one grip aperture;    a plate rim sloping upward from the recessed compartment and defining the periphery of the recessed compartment of the first section; and    a support rim, said support rim defining the beverage aperture and the grip aperture of the second section.    
   
   
       11 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 10 , wherein the plate rim and the support rim are connected along a plane and together comprise a planar elliptical shape of the combination plate.  
   
   
       12 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 11 , wherein the shape of the combination plate is planar multi-sided.  
   
   
       13 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 10 , wherein the support rim defines a beverage aperture having a circular configuration and defines a grip aperture having a semi-circular configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 13 , wherein the support rim further comprises a slot, such that the beverage aperture is slotted.  
   
   
       15 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 10 , wherein the beverage aperture further comprises a tapered sleeve extending down from the support rim, said tapered sleeve configured to aid in receiving and holding a beverage container within the beverage aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 13 , wherein the support rim further comprises at least one opening, together said opening and support rim defining the semi-circular configuration of the grip aperture, and 
 wherein said opening is configured with sufficient dimension to permit engagement of a person's hand in the grip aperture.    
   
   
       17 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 16 , wherein the grip aperture is configured to receive and hold a stemmed beverage container.  
   
   
       18 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 10 , wherein the second section is configured with a grip aperture on either side of the beverage aperture.  
   
   
       19 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 10 , wherein the combination plate is comprised of a material suitable for reuse.  
   
   
       20 . The combination food and beverage plate of  claim 10 , wherein the combination plate is comprised of a material suitable for single use.