Interlocking plate and cup set

Abstract

An interlocking plate and cup set for use in casual dining so that one can hold a plate and cup with one hand. The plate and cup mate together so that the cup will be securely held to the plate and so that the mated combination can be placed on and removed from a flat surface without separation. The plate is generally flat and has an upper surface with a raised circumferential edge (12) for restraining food. The upper surface of the plate also has a cup-holding support (20) comprising a slot (24) extending in from the edge of the plate. The slot terminates in a concave cup-support area (22). The cup has a relatively broad base (30), a relatively narrow stem (32) extending up from the base, and a relatively broad liquid-holding body portion (34) extending up fro the stem. The body portion has a convex bottom surface (42) facing downward which is shaped to mate with the cup-support area in the plate. The cup support portion of the plate is spaced from the bottom of the plate and the cup's stem is dimensioned such that (a) the cup can be mated with the plate by inserting the stem of the cup into the slot of the plate until the convex underside of the cups body mates with the concave area of the plate, and (b) when the mated combination is placed upon a flat horizontal surface, it will remain mated.

I claim: 
     
       1. A mating plate and cup set comprising: a plate having upper and lower major surfaces which face in opposite directions, said upper and lower surfaces being joined by .[.an.]. .Iadd.a circumferential .Iaddend.edge, said plate having a notch extending in from .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.edge .[.thereof.]. for receiving .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.stem of a cup, said notch .[.terminating.]. .Iadd.having a termination .Iaddend.at a location on said plate spaced in from said edge,   .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.portion .Iadd.of said upper surface .Iaddend.of said plate surrounding .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.termination of said notch, .[.when viewed from a direction orthogonal to said upper surface thereof, comprising.]. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.a concavity which surrounds said termination of said notch, said concavity having a .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.concave .Iaddend.shape and a given dimension .[.when measured in a direction parellel to said upper surface of said plate.]., and     a mating cup having a body which is capable of carrying a quanity of liquid, a base which is below said .[.base.]. .Iadd.body .Iaddend.and which is capable of supporting said cup in a stable manner on a flat, horizontal surface, and a stem .[.interconnecting.]. .Iadd.having a lower end connected to said base and an upper end connected to a bottom surface of .Iaddend.said body .[.and said base.]., said stem having an axis and being narrower than said body and said base and .[.able.]. .Iadd.dimensioned .Iaddend.to slide .[.in.]. .Iadd.into .Iaddend.said notch of said plate, .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.bottom surface of said body having a peripheral area which is substantially flat and perpendicular to said axis of said stem, and a downwardly projecting convex portion which is surrounded by said peripheral area and surrounds and is adjacent to said stem,   said convex portion .[.extending down from said peripheral area and.]. having a .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.convex .Iaddend.shape which conformingly mates with said .[.concavity.]. .Iadd.concave shape .Iaddend.when said cup is mated with said plate by inserting said stem into said notch and positioning said .[.inner.]. .Iadd.convex .Iaddend.portion of said cup into said concavity of said plate,   .[.said peripheral and inner portions of.]. .Iadd.said stem having a length and .Iaddend.said bottom surface of said plate .[.being dimensioned.]. .Iadd.having an inner portion peripheral to and adjacent to said notch being shaped such that.Iaddend., when said plate and cup are mated, .[.and when measured in said direction parallel to said upper surface of said plate, such that.]. said .[.peripheral.]. .Iadd.inner .Iaddend.portion will .[.rest on.]. .Iadd.conformingly mate .Iaddend.to an .[.area.]. .Iadd.upper surface .Iaddend.of said .[.plate.]. .Iadd.base .Iaddend.surrounding said .[.concavity thereof.]. .Iadd.lower end of said stem.Iaddend.,     whereby said plate and cup will remain very stable and said cup will resist tipping when said cup and said plate are mated.   
     
     
       2. The set of claim 1 wherein .Iadd.an outer boundary of .Iaddend.said cup and .Iadd.said circumferential edge of .Iaddend.said plate are circular in shape.[., in plan configuration.].. 
     
     
       3. The set of claim 1 wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.bottom .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said plate .[.has.]. .Iadd.comprises .Iaddend.a .[.ridge.]. .Iadd.rib .Iaddend.partly surrounding said notch, said .[.ridge.]. .Iadd.rib .Iaddend.being dimensioned to contact said .Iadd.uppersurface of said .Iaddend.base of said cup when said cup and plate are mated and said cup is tipped. 
     
     
       4. The set of claim 1 wherein said cup has a larger diameter upper portion and a smaller diameter lower portion, such that a plurality of cups can be stacked by inserting the base and lower portion of an upper cup into the inside of the upper portion of a lower cup. 
     
     
       5. The set of claim 1 wherein said plate has a handhold platform with a thumb notch on a side thereof opposite said notch. 
     
     
       6. The set of claim 1 wherein said upper surface of said plate has a raised circumferential edge for restraining food, when placed upon said upper surface, from falling off the edge of said upper surface. 
     
     
       7. The set of claim 1 wherein said stem of said cup has a length, and said base of said cup has a thickness, which are .[.short enough in height such.]. .Iadd.selected to provide .Iaddend.that when said cup is mated with said plate by inserting said stem into said notch and allowing said bottom surface of said body of said cup to rest on .[.the area of.]. said upper surface of said plate surrounding the termination of said notch, said bottom of said plate can be placed on a horizontal surface .Iadd.of a support .Iaddend.without said bottom surface of said .[.bottom of said.]. body of said cup being forced .[.up and.]. away from said top surface of said plate, whereby said plate and cup, when mated, can be placed on a horizontal surface and will remain mated. 
     
     
       8. A mating plate and cup set, comprising: a plate having upper and lower .[.major.]. surfaces which face in opposite directions, said upper and lower surfaces being joined by an edge.[.,.]..Iadd.: .Iaddend. said plate having a notch extending in from .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.edge .[.thereof.]. for receiving the stem of a cup, said notch .[.terminating.]. .Iadd.having a termination .Iaddend.at a location on said plate spaced in from said edge,   said .[.bottom.]. .Iadd.lower .Iaddend.surface of said plate having a bottom annular ridge .[.for supporting.]. i with a height providing that said bottom surface .Iadd.be supported .Iaddend.at .[.a given.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.height when said plate is placed on a horizontal support,     a mating cup having a body which is capable of carrying a quantity of liquid, a base which is below said .[.base.]. .Iadd.body .Iaddend.and which is capable of supporting said cup in a stable manner on a flat, horizontal surface, and a stem .[.interconnecting.]. .Iadd.having a top end connected to .Iaddend.said body and .Iadd.a bottom end connected to an upper surface of .Iaddend.said base, said stem having an axis and being narrower than said body and said base and .[.able.]. .Iadd.dimensioned .Iaddend.to .Iadd.engagingly .Iaddend.slide .[.in.]. .Iadd.into .Iaddend.said notch of said plate, said body having a bottom surface which faces .Iadd.said upper surface of .Iaddend.said base, said stem having a length, and said base having .Iadd.a .Iaddend.thickness, .[.which are short enough in height such.]. .Iadd.selected to provide .Iaddend.that when said cup is mated with said plate by inserting said stem into said notch and allowing said bottom surface of said body of said cup to rest on .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.area of said upper surface of said plate surrounding .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.termination of said notch, said bottom ridge of said plate can be placed on a horizontal surface without said bottom surface .[.of said bottom.]. of said body of said cup being forced up and away from said top surface of said plate,   whereby said plate and cup, when mated, can be placed on a horizontal surface and will remain mated.     
     
     
       9. The set of claim 8 wherein .Iadd.an outer boundary of .Iaddend.said cup and .Iadd.circumferential edge of .Iaddend.said plate are circular .[.in shape, in plan configuration.].. 
     
     
       10. The set of claim 8 wherein .[.the bottom.]. .Iadd.said lower surface .Iaddend.of said plate has a .[.ridge.]. .Iadd.rib .Iaddend.partly surrounding said notch, said .[.ridge.]. .Iadd.rib .Iaddend.being dimensioned to contact said .Iadd.upper surface of said .Iaddend.base of said cup when said cup and .Iadd.said .Iaddend.plate are mated and said cup is tipped. 
     
     
       11. The set of claim 8 wherein said cup has a larger diameter upper portion and a smaller diameter lower portion, such that a plurality of cups can be stacked by inserting the base and lower portion of an upper cup into the inside of the upper portion of a lower cup. 
     
     
       12. The set of claim 8 wherein said plate has a handhold platform with a thumb notch on a side thereof opposite said notch. 
     
     
       13. The set of claim 8 wherein said upper surface of said plate has a raised circumferential edge for restraining food, when placed upon said upper surface, from falling off the edge of said upper surface. 
     
     
       14. The set of claim 8 wherein the bottom surface of said body of said cup has a peripheral area which is substantially flat and perpendicular to said axis of said stem, and a downwardly projecting convex portion which is surrounded by said peripheral area and surrounds and is adjacent to said stem, said upper surface of said plate having an area which conformingly mates with said bottom surface of said body of said cup. 
     
     
       15. An interlocking plate and cup set, comprising: a plate comprising a generally flat member having upper and lower .[.major.]. surfaces which face in opposite directions, said upper surface of said plate .[.including.]. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.a raised circumferential edge for restraining food, when placed upon said upper surface, from falling off the edge of said upper surface, said upper surface of said plate having a cup support portion, extending in from an edge thereof, said cup support portion being spaced above said bottom surface of said plate,   said cup support portion .[.including.]. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.a notch .[.or slot.]. extending radially inwardly from said edge of said plate .[.partially toward the center of said plate.]., said .[.slot.]. .Iadd.notch .Iaddend.having a termination spaced inwardly from said edge .[.toward said center thereof, said termination being surrounded by.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a mating cup support area in said cup support portion of said upper surface .Iadd.surrounding said termination.Iaddend.,   .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.cup having a .[.relatively broad.]. base .Iadd.sufficiently broad and .Iaddend.arranged to support said cup when said base is placed upon a flat horizontal support surface, a .[.relatively narrow.]. stem .Iadd.substantially more narrow than said base and having a lower end secured to an upper surface of said base and .Iaddend.extending upwardly from said base, and a .[.relatively broad.]. liquid-holding body .[.porton.]. extending upwardly from said stem, said body .[.portion.]. having a bottom surface facing said base and attached to .Iadd.an upper end of .Iaddend.said stem, said bottom surface of said body .[.portion being shaped to .]. .Iadd.having a shape permitting it to .Iaddend.mate with said mating .Iadd.cup .Iaddend.support .[.area.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.in said upper surface of said plate,   said cup support portion of said plate being spaced from said bottom surface of said plate and said stem being dimensioned such that, when said cup .Iadd.support portion .Iaddend.is mated with said .[.plate.]. .Iadd.bottom surface of said body .Iaddend.by inserting said stem into said .[.slot.]. .Iadd.notch .Iaddend.toward said termination, and said mated plate and cup are placed .Iadd.with said lower plate surface .Iaddend.upon said flat horizontal surface, .[.said bottom surface of said plate and will rest upon said flat horizontal surface, yet said bottom surface of said cup will be spaced from said horizontal surface so that.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.said .[.plate and said.]. cup .Iadd.support section and said bottom body surface .Iaddend.will remain substantially mated.     
     
     
       16. The set of claim 15 wherein said cup .Iadd.has a boundary .Iaddend.and said plate .Iadd.has a boundary and said plate and cup boundaries .Iaddend.are circular .[.in shape, in plan configuration.].. 
     
     
       17. The set of claim 15 wherein .[.the bottom.]. .Iadd.said lower surface .Iaddend.of said plate has a .[.ridge.]. .Iadd.rib .Iaddend.partly surrounding said notch, said .[.ridge.]. .Iadd.rib .Iaddend.being dimensioned to contact said base of said cup when said cup and plate are mated and said cup is tipped. 
     
     
       18. The set of claim 15 wherein said .[.plate.]. .Iadd.cup .Iaddend.has a larger diameter upper portion and a smaller diameter lower portion, .Iadd.dimensioned .Iaddend.such that a plurality of cups can be stacked by inserting the base and lower portion of an upper cup .[.into the.]. inside .[.of the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.upper portion of a lower cup. 
     
     
       19. The set of claim 15 wherein said plate has a handhold platform with a thumb notch on a side thereof opposite said notch. 
     
     
       20. The set of claim 15 wherein the bottom surface of said body of said cup has a peripheral area which is substantially flat and perpendicular to said axis of said stem, and a downwardly projecting convex portion which is surrounded by said peripheral area and surrounds and is adjacent to said stem, said upper surface of said plate having an area which conformingly mates with said bottom surface of said body of said cup. .Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  A mating plate and part set which comprises: a plate member with an upper plate surface and a lower plate surface substantially parallel to one another and forming an edge and a notch in said edge extending from said edge to a termination distal from said edge;   said upper plate surface including a concavity having a concave shape and peripheral to said termination;   said lower plate surface including a base support area adjacent to said termination;   a part member including a base with an upper base surface and a lower base surface and a base thickness between said upper base surface and said lower base surface;   said part member including a stem having a lower end secured to said upper base surface and an upper end extending away from said upper base surface;   said part member having a part surface with a shape and facing said upper base surface and secured to an upper end of said stem;   said shapes of said part surface, said upper base surface, said concavity and said base support areas, said stem length and base thickness, all selected in operable combination with one another to provide that said part member may be detachably engaged with said plate member such that when said stem is positioned in said termination, said part surface conformingly mates to said concavity, and said upper base surface conformingly mates with said base support area thereby providing stable support to said part member by said plate member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A set as in claim 21 wherein said lower base surface is flat and said lower plate surface has areas that are flat and said base thickness is selected such that said lower base surface is coplanar with said lower plate surface when said body and plate members are mated permitting said plate member and part member to be supported on a flat surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A set as in claim 21 wherein said base support area includes a plurality of upstanding ribs, each said rib having two sides bounded by one edge secured to said base support area and another edge contoured to mate with said upper base surface. .Iaddend.