Method and apparatus for food and drink receptacle

Abstract

An apparatus for holding food having a first inner chamber; and a cup having a top opening leading to an inner chamber, wherein the inner chamber of the cup is enclosed by a peripheral wall and a bottom. The apparatus for holding food and the cup may be configured to fit at least partially in the inner chamber of the cup, while the apparatus for holding food and the cup are both in an upright state, in a manner to allow liquid to sit on the bottom of the cup without being contacted by the apparatus for holding food, and to allow food to sit in the first inner chamber of the apparatus for holding food without falling through. The apparatus for holding food may have a circular shape, which covers the top opening of the cup, except for one or more indentations, through which a straw can be inserted.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus for holding food having a first inner chamber; and   a cup having a top opening leading to an inner chamber, wherein the inner chamber of the cup is enclosed by a peripheral wall and a bottom; and   wherein the apparatus for holding food and the cup are configured so that the apparatus for holding food fits at least partially in the inner chamber of the cup, while the apparatus for holding food and the cup are both in an upright state, in a manner to allow liquid to sit on the bottom of the cup without being contacted by the apparatus for holding food, and to allow food to sit in the first inner chamber of the apparatus for holding food without falling through the apparatus for holding food.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has a circular shape, which covers the top opening of the cup, except for one or more indentations, through which a straw can be inserted into the inner chamber of the cup to allow an end of the straw to contact the bottom of the cup, when the apparatus for holding food is at least partially inserted into the inner chamber of the cup 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has a peripheral wall with an angle which is substantially parallel to an angle of the peripheral wall of the cup, to allow the peripheral wall of the apparatus for holding food to snugly fit into the cup when the apparatus for holding food is at least partially inserted into the inner chamber of the cup. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has a first section and a second section; 
 wherein the first section of the apparatus for holding food has a diameter which increases from a junction with the second section to a top of the apparatus for holding food; and 
 wherein the second section of the apparatus of holding food has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the first section at the junction with the second section, and which decreases to a bottom of the apparatus for holding food. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has ledge, and there is an opening in the ledge through which a straw can be inserted into the inner chamber of the cup in order to access liquid at the bottom of the cup. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 inserting an apparatus for holding food into a cup, such that the apparatus for holding food does not touch an inner bottom surface of the cup;   wherein the apparatus for holding food has a first inner chamber; and   the cup has a top opening leading to an inner chamber, wherein the inner chamber of the cup is enclosed by a peripheral wall and a bottom; and   wherein the apparatus for holding food and the cup are configured so that the apparatus for holding food fits at least partially in the inner chamber of the cup, while the apparatus for holding food and the cup are both in an upright state, in a manner to allow liquid to sit on the bottom of the cup without being contacted by the apparatus for holding food, and to allow food to sit in the first inner chamber of the apparatus for holding food without falling through the apparatus for holding food.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has a circular shape, which covers the top opening of the cup, except for one or more indentations, through which a straw can be inserted into the inner chamber of the cup to allow an end of the straw to contact the bottom of the cup, when the apparatus for holding food is at least partially inserted into the inner chamber of the cup 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has a peripheral wall with an angle which is substantially parallel to an angle of the peripheral wall of the cup, to allow the peripheral wall of the apparatus for holding food to snugly fit into the cup when the apparatus for holding food is at least partially inserted into the inner chamber of the cup. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has a first section and a second section; 
 wherein the first section of the apparatus for holding food has a diameter which increases from a junction with the second section to a top of the apparatus for holding food; and 
 wherein the second section of the apparatus of holding food has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the first section at the junction with the second section, and which decreases to a bottom of the apparatus for holding food. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the apparatus for holding food has ledge, and there is an opening in the ledge through which a straw can be inserted into the inner chamber of the cup in order to access liquid at the bottom of the cup.