One-handed support for a plate and a beverage container

Abstract

A single-handed support for plates and a beverage container is integrally formed as a single piece. The support includes upper and lower support surfaces which are connected and substantially parallel to each other. A vertically oriented hand-grippable member extends downwardly from the upper support surface. The upper support surface includes a front section sized to hold a food dish. The rear section of the upper support surface has an aperture and retainers to hold a beverage container. The lower surface below the front section of the upper surface is sized to hold a plate and has a plate anchoring member.

1 . A single-hand supported holder for at least one food container and a beverage comprising: 
 horizontally oriented upper and lower rigid supports;    a hand gripper member extending downwardly from said upper rigid support;    said upper and lower rigid supports being connected to each other with connecting members so that said upper and lower rigid supports are substantially parallel to each other;    said upper support having front and rear sections;    said front section being sized to receive and hold a food dish thereon;    said rear section being sized to receive and hold a beverage container therein;    said lower rigid support located below said front section of said upper rigid support being sized to receive and hold a plate thereon; and    a plate anchoring structure operable, in conjunction with said lower rigid support, to support a plate on said lower rigid support.    
   
   
       2 . The single-hand supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein said plate anchoring structure includes a fastening device adjacent said lower rigid support.  
   
   
       3 . The single-hand supported holder of  claim 2 , wherein said fastening device comprises a manually deformable tension clip attached to said connecting member and being constructed and arranged to grasp an edge of a serving plate placed on said lower rigid support.  
   
   
       4 . The single-hand supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein said rear section of said upper support includes an aperture therein; 
 beverage container retention structure extending downwardly from said aperture;    said lower rigid support located below said rear section of said upper rigid support and having a retention support member thereon;    said aperture, said retention structure and said retention support member cooperating to support and retain a beverage container placed therein.    
   
   
       5 . The single-hand supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein said hand gripper member is ergonomically contoured to facilitate manual gripping.  
   
   
       6 . The single-hand supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein said lower rigid supports are constructed and arranged to support said single hand supported holder in an upright position on a support surface.  
   
   
       7 . The single-handed supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting members are provided with reinforcing members formed thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The single-handed supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein said single-hand supported holder is integrally formed as a single member.  
   
   
       9 . The single-handed supported holder of  claim 1 , wherein support ribs are attached to the lower surfaces of said upper and lower rigid supports.  
   
   
       10 . The single-handed supported holder of  claim 8 , wherein support ribs are integrally formed on the lower surfaces of said upper and lower rigid supports.  
   
   
       11 . The single-handed support holder of  claim 1 , further including a banner placed on and supported by said rear section of said upper support, said banner including indicia thereon.  
   
   
       12 . The single-handed support holder of  claim 1 , wherein said upper support further includes a central section located between said front and rear sections; 
 said central section including apertures constructed and arranged to hold beverage containers placed therein.    
   
   
       13 . The single-handed support holder of  claim 1 , wherein said upper support further includes a central section located between said front and rear sections, said hand gripper member attached to and extending downwardly from said central section.  
   
   
       14 . The single-handed support holder of  claim 1 , wherein said upper support includes at least one aperture sized for insertion of eating utensils therein.