Food plate with beverage container receiving portion

Abstract

A food dish includes a food-holding portion and, at one edge, a beverage receiving portion formed by a parabolic arcuate wide-mouth opening having a recess perimeter that has a depending skirt portion about its entire length, which receives a beverage container and allows a user to easily hold a beverage secured against the skirt and the food plate together in one hand, freeing the other hand for other activities.

1 . A plate comprising:
 a. a plate portion comprising a perimeter and a substantially flat plate portion for holding products;   b. a beverage container receiving portion comprising a recessed portion in said perimeter of said plate, said recessed portion comprising an arcuate recess and a depending skirt portion along said arcuate recess, wherein said wide-mouth arcuate opening presents an opening lying in a range of 30°-95° of said perimeter of the plate.   
     
     
         2 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a tunnel between said plate portion and said beverage container receiving portion, said tunnel lying under a top surface of said beverage container receiving portion for receiving and accommodating one or more fingers of a user. 
     
     
         3 . A plate in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said tunnel is parallel to and coextensive with said arcuate recess. 
     
     
         4 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said depending skirt depends from said beverage container receiving portion at an angle lying in a range of 90° to about 95° relative to the general plane of said plate portion such that a bottom edge of said depending skirt portion projects outwardly from said plate portion. 
     
     
         5 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said wide-mouth arcuate opening presents an opening of 56° of said perimeter of the plate. 
     
     
         6 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said bottom edge of said depending skirt portion and a bottom surface of said plate portion extend below a rim of the plate by the same distance, whereby the plate will lie level when placed on a flat level surface, thereby increasing the marketability of the plate. 
     
     
         7 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said recessed portion is a parabola defined by the equation y=ax 2 +bx+c with x lying in a range of 3-5 cm and −3 to −5 cm and y lying in the range of 2-5 cm. 
     
     
         8 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising means for increasing friction on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of a rim of the plate adjacent to said recessed portion at each of two ends of said recessed portion. 
     
     
         9 . A plate in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said friction means further comprises a plurality of friction ridges, whereby gripping the plate is facilitated, providing a user with a sense that the plate is studier and thereby increasing marketability of the plate. 
     
     
         11 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a thickened portion of each of two ends of an upper surface of said arcuate recess, whereby gripping the plate is facilitated, providing a user with a sense that the plate is studier and thereby increasing marketability of the plate. 
     
     
         12 . A plate in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said perimeter of said plate portion further comprises an upper surface and said perimeter upper surface and a top edge of said skirt portion lie along a straight line parallel to a bottom wall of said plate portion, whereby the top edge of the plate is straight across the plate. 
     
     
         13 . A plate comprising:
 a. a plate portion comprising a perimeter and a substantially flat plate portion for holding products;   b. a beverage container receiving portion comprising a recessed portion in said perimeter of said plate, said recessed portion comprising an arcuate recess and a depending skirt portion along said arcuate recess; and   c. a tunnel between said plate portion and said beverage container receiving portion, said tunnel lying under a top surface of said beverage container receiving portion for receiving and accommodating one or more fingers of a user.   
     
     
         14 . A plate in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said tunnel is parallel to and coextensive with said arcuate recess. 
     
     
         15 . A plate in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said depending skirt depends from said beverage container receiving portion at an angle lying in a range of 90° to about 95° relative to the general plane of said plate portion such that a bottom edge of said depending skirt portion projects outwardly from said plate portion. 
     
     
         16 . A plate in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said bottom edge of said depending skirt portion and a bottom surface of said plate portion a bottom extend below a rim of the plate by the same distance, whereby the plate will lie level when placed on a flat level surface, whereby marketability of the plate is increased. 
     
     
         17 . A plate in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said perimeter of said plate portion further comprises an upper surface and said perimeter upper surface and a top edge of said skirt portion lie along a straight line parallel to a bottom wall of said plate portion, whereby the top edge of the plate is straight across the plate. 
     
     
         18 . A plate comprising:
 a. a plate portion comprising a perimeter and a substantially flat plate portion for holding products;   b. a beverage container receiving portion comprising a recessed portion in said perimeter of said plate, said recessed portion comprising an arcuate recess and a depending skirt portion along said arcuate recess for receiving a beverage container and a corresponding upstanding collar portion along said arcuate recess, wherein said depending skirt portion and said upstanding collar portion are vertically aligned with one another for receiving a beverage container, thereby increasing the user's perception of security regarding the beverage container and thereby increasing marketability of the plate, wherein said arcuate opening presents an opening lying in a range of 30°-95°of said perimeter of the plate;   c. a tunnel between said plate portion and said beverage container receiving portion, said tunnel lying under a top surface of said beverage container receiving portion for receiving and accommodating one or more fingers of a user, wherein said tunnel is parallel to and coextensive with said arcuate recess;   d. means for increasing friction on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of a rim of the plate adjacent to said recessed portion at each of two ends of said recessed portion, whereby gripping the plate is facilitated, providing a user with a sense that the plate is studier and thereby increasing marketability of the plate; and   e. a thickened portion of each of two ends of an upper surface of said arcuate recess, whereby gripping the plate is facilitated, providing a user with a sense that the plate is studier and thereby increasing marketability of the plate.   
     
     
         19 . A plate in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said depending skirt depends from said beverage container receiving portion at an angle lying in a range of 90° to about 95° relative to the general plane of said plate portion such that a bottom edge of said depending skirt portion projects outwardly from said plate portion. 
     
     
         20 . A plate in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said perimeter of said plate portion further comprises an upper surface and said perimeter upper surface and a top edge of said skirt portion lie along a straight line parallel to a bottom wall of said plate portion, whereby the top edge of the plate is straight across the plate. 
     
     
         21 . A plate comprising:
 a. a plate portion comprising a perimeter and a substantially flat plate portion for holding items; and   b. a beverage container receiving portion comprising a recessed portion in said perimeter of said plate, said recessed portion further comprising an arcuate parabolic shape.