Combination napkin and utensil holder

Abstract

Napkin ring structures that also support eating utensils, such as a knife, fork, spoon, or chopsticks, while retaining a napkin. The napkin ring structure has a receiving area for supporting one or more utensils, with at least one retaining member, and often two retaining members on either side of the receiving area, the retaining members configured to inhibit the utensil from being displaced from the receiving area. Often, the receiving area is positioned above the napkin.

1 . A device for retaining a napkin and one or more utensils, the device comprising: 
 a ring structure having an interior area for receiving a napkin therethrough;    a first receiving area configured for receiving one or more utensils, the first receiving area bounded by a first retaining member on a first side and a second retaining member on a second side opposite the first side.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second receiving area configured for receiving the utensil, the second receiving area bounded by a first retaining member on a first side and a second retaining member on a second side opposite the first side.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the ring structure is positioned between the first receiving area and the second receiving area.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the first receiving area is present on an outer surface of the ring structure.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring structure has a central axis and the first receiving area has a receiving axis aligned with the first retaining member and the second retaining member, the receiving axis being parallel to the central axis.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring structure has a central axis and the first receiving area has a receiving axis aligned with the first retaining member and the second retaining member, the receiving axis being at an angle of 5 to 45 degrees to the central axis.  
   
   
       7 . A device for retaining a napkin and one or more utensils, the device comprising: 
 a ring structure defining:    (a) an interior area for receiving a napkin therethrough;    (b) a first receiving area configured for receiving one or more utensils, the first receiving area bounded by a first retaining member.    
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , the ring structure further comprising a base and a top-most portion, with the first receiving area positioned opposite the base.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first retaining member includes the top-most portion.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 7 , the first receiving area bounded by a second retaining member opposite the first retaining member.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first retaining member and the second retaining member includes the top-most portion.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring structure has a central axis and the first receiving area has a receiving axis aligned with the first retaining member, the receiving axis being parallel to the central axis.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring structure has a central axis and the first receiving area has a receiving axis aligned with the first retaining member, the receiving axis being about 5 to 45 degrees to the central axis.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring structure has a central axis and the first receiving area has a receiving axis aligned with the first retaining member, the receiving axis being generally perpendicular to the central axis.