Plate with Built-In Hole for Cup

Abstract

A plate with a built-in cup holder, designed to be picked up, held, and set down with one hand. Plate has an off-centered hole designed to hold drinking vessels of various sizes. Hole has a slight lip, in the shape of an overturned “V,” around its perimeter, which protects the drinking vessel from food on the plate. This lip is lined on its interior with bumps or ridges or some similar raised elements. The bumps or ridges help hold the drinking vessel in place and also prevent the drinking vessel from getting stuck. A person can hold the plate, with a drinking vessel, by the edge of the plate. When the plate is set down, the cup rises through the hole as the plate is set on the flat surface. The plate can be used with or without a drinking vessel. The plate can be stacked upon a duplicate plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A plate, capable of being held with one hand, comprising in combination: 
 (a) a food-bearing surface; and    (b) an off-centered hole in said surface designed to hold a drinking vessel.    
     
     
         2 . Wherein plate in  claim 1  has a graduated lip or curvature around the perimeter to keep food or other items on the surface.  
     
     
         3 . Wherein hole in  claim 1:   (a) is off-centered;    (b) can hold various size drinking vessels;    (c) has a slight lip, in the shape of an overturned “V,” around its perimeter to protect said drinking vessel from food or other items on said plate; said v-shape rises above the surface level of said plate;    (d) has bumps, bubbles, ridges, or some similar raised elements along the inside of the lip to prevent said drinking vessel from sticking.    
     
     
         4 . Wherein plate in  claim 1  can be of various sizes and made of various materials, so long as the material is of sufficient strength to hold food and drinking vessel, or other items.  
     
     
         5 . Wherein plate in  claim 1  can be stacked on top of a duplicate of said plate.  
     
     
         6 . Wherein plate in  claim 1  may include partitions for segregating contents of said plate.  
     
     
         7 . Wherein plate in  claim 1  can be used as a normal plate without a drinking vessel in place.  
     
     
         8 . Wherein plate in  claim 1  may have various rim heights so as to optimally control various types and/or sizes of foodstuffs.