Apparatus and method for providing foods in adjacent portable containers

Abstract

The invention described herein is generally directed to a snack or dip or food holder assembly that can attach to bowls, dishes, plates, trays and the like. Specifically, a snack or dip holder is provided that can be removeably attached to a bowl or plate edge.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A food/dip holder assembly comprising:
 a container member having a interior surface and an exterior surface forming a wall, the interior surface and the exterior surface terminating at a lip portion; and   a clamping means adapted to be cooperatively coupled to the container member in a manner to provide the food/dip holder assembly with a means of being removably attached to a serving apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the clamping means is pliable and connected to the serving apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamping means and the container member are formed as a single molded product. 
     
     
         3 . The food/dip holder of  claim 2  wherein the single molded product is made of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and silicone. 
     
     
         4 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the food/dip holder is made of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and silicone, metal, ceramic, glass and reinforced cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamping means is adapted to be coupled to at least a portion of the lip portion. 
     
     
         6 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamping means is comprised of one or more clamps disposed on a side of the container member. 
     
     
         7 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamping means is selected from the group consisting of a clamp, a clip, a hanger, a curve wire, a fastener and a hook. 
     
     
         8 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamping means is coupled to the container member by a mechanism selected from group consisting of adhesives, chemical welding, mechanical fasteners, tongue and groove attachment, and dovetail attachment. 
     
     
         9 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the shape of the lip portion is selected from a group consisting of kidney bean, circular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, ovals and rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  further comprising a base, wherein the base comprises an external layer of skid-resistant material. 
     
     
         11 . The food/dip holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamping means has a lateral or sideways clamping or clip device configured to removably attach the container member to an edge of the serving apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A food/dip holder assembly comprising:
 a serving apparatus configured to support food thereon, the serving apparatus having a lateral edge; and   an attachment means adapted to be operatively coupled to the serving apparatus in a manner to provide the food/dip holder assembly with a means of being removably attached to a second serving apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The food/dip holder of  claim 12  wherein a portion of the second serving member is pliable. 
     
     
         14 . The food/dip holder of  claim 13  wherein the second serving member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and silicone, metal, ceramic, glass and reinforced cardboard. 
     
     
         15 . A food/dip holder assembly comprising:
 a container member having an interior surface and an exterior surface forming a wall, the interior surface and the exterior surface terminating at a lip portion; and   a clamping means adapted to be cooperatively coupled to the container member in a manner to provide the food/dip holder assembly with a means of being removably attached to a serving apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the serving apparatus is pliable.   
     
     
         16 . The food/dip holder of  claim 15  wherein the clamping means and the container member are formed as a single molded product. 
     
     
         17 . The food/dip holder of  claim 15  wherein the serving apparatus is made of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and silicone. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a food holder assembly comprising:
 attaching a clamping means to a serving apparatus, wherein the clamping means is adapted to be cooperatively coupled to a container member in a manner to provide the food holder assembly with a means of being removably attached to the serving apparatus, wherein the container member has an interior surface and an exterior surface forming a wall, the interior surface and the exterior surface terminating at a lip portion and wherein at least a portion of the clamping means is connected to the serving apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein a portion of the clamping means, the serving apparatus or the container is pliable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of filling a portion of the serving apparatus with a foodstuff.