Kit for assembling a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage container

Abstract

A kit for a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage comprises a plurality of interfitting flat components each having an equal thickness so that the aggregate of the components forming the kit is substantially flat and stackable. The kit includes a base which includes elongated upper and lower supports with aligned in a horizontally-oriented parallel arrangement with a hand-grippable connecting member perpendicularly oriented therebetween. A portion of the lower support forms a first component of a beverage support. A second beverage support component is insertable into the first component to form the beverage support. A plate support member having an platform portion is configured for placement on the upper support, and has an annular beverage grip extends therefrom. In use, a beverage can be inserted through the annular beverage grip and seated in the beverage support, and a user can hold the device by grasping the connecting member.

1 . A kit providing interfitting components wherefrom a one-handed support for a disposable plate and a drinking vessel can be constructed, said kit comprising; 
 a plurality of interfitting unitary components, each of said components being flat and having equal thickness whereby the aggregate of said components forming said kit is substantially flat and stackable, said plurality of interfitting components comprising:    a base member, said base member comprising elongated upper and lower supports aligned in a horizontally-oriented parallel arrangement with a hand-grippable connecting member contiguous to said upper and lower supports and perpendicularly oriented therebetween, said lower support having front and rear sections extending diametrically from said connecting member wherein said rear section has a distal end and a proximal end wherein said proximal end is adjacent to said connecting member, said front and rear sections each including upper and lower edges wherein said lower edges are in linear alignment with one another, said front section of said lower support having a proximal end adjacent to said connecting member and a distal end extending therefrom configured as a first beverage support component, said first beverage support component having a vertical slotted opening in the horizontal center thereof sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having said thickness, said upper support having a horizontal linear top edge and a distal end in approximate vertical alignment with said distal end of said lower support and a proximal end terminating at said connecting member; said upper support having a plate securement member extending upwardly from said proximal end including a horizontal slotted opening therein sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having said thickness, said horizontal slotted slot having a lower edge in linear alignment with said upper edge of said upper support;    a second beverage support component having a configuration approximately identical to said first beverage holder component having a complementary slotted opening wherein said second beverage support component is perpendicularly insertable into said first beverage support component to form a beverage support; and    a plate support member having a platform portion configured for placement on said upper support and configured for engagement with said slotted opening in said plate securement member, said platform portion dimensioned for placement of a plate thereon and having an annular beverage grip extending therefrom defining an approximately circular beverage receiving aperture positioned to be coaxially aligned with said beverage support; whereby said kit can be assembled and said connecting member is available as a hand grip, and a plate can be placed on said plate support member and a drinking vessel can be placed in said beverage holder and held upright therein with said annular beverage grip.    
   
   
       2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said front and rear sections of said lower support are of approximately equal length.  
   
   
       3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said lower edges of said front and rear section are adapted for placement on a support surface, and said rear section includes a vertical slotted opening in said upper edge proximate said distal end sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having said thickness; and said plurality of interfitting components further comprises 
 an elongated base stabilizing member having a horizontal linear lower edge and including a slotted opening centered in said linear lower edge, said slotted opening sized for engagement with said slot on said rear section said base stabilizing member can be inserted into said slot in said rear section in perpendicular arrangement, said base stabilizing member being configured such that said lower edge of said base stabilizing member is coplanar with said lower edge of said rear section when said base stabilizing member is inserted therein.    
   
   
       4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said lower edges of said front and rear sections are adapted for placement on a support surface, and said rear section includes a vertical slotted opening in said lower edge proximate said distal end sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having said thickness; and said plurality of interfitting components further comprises an elongated stabilizing member having a horizontal linear lower edge and an upper edge wherein said upper edge includes a slotted opening centered therein sized for engagement with said slot on said rear section, said first stabilizing member being insertable into said slot in said rear section in a perpendicular arrangement, said stabilizing member being configured such that said lower edge of said first stabilizing member is vertically aligned with said lower edge of said rear section when said stabilizing member is inserted therein.  
   
   
       5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said rear section has a height, and said portion of said front support proximate said connecting member forms a finger-gripping region having a height approximately equal to said rear section, and said first beverage support component has first and second vertical walls forming said first beverage support component has a height greater than said height of said rear section, wherein said first vertical wall is contiguous to said finger-gripping region and said second vertical wall forms a distal edge of said front section.  
   
   
       6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein said first beverage support component includes a recess in said upper edge of said front support contoured to conform to the diameter of the lower surface of a beverage container, and said vertical slotted opening is aligned with the horizontal center of said recess.  
   
   
       7 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein said recess has at least two tiers therein symmetrical about a horizontal center line which are dimensioned to accommodate beverage containers of corresponding diameters.  
   
   
       8 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said linear top edge of said upper support has a vertical slotted opening therein formed as vertical slot sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having said thickness, and said plurality of interfitting components further comprises a plate support stabilizing member having a linear top edge and a lower edge, wherein said lower edge has a vertical slotted opening therein sized and positioned for engagement with said vertical slot in said linear top edge of said upper support to allow said plate support stabilizing member to be inserted into said upper support in a perpendicular arrangement, and said plate support stabilizing member being dimensioned such that said linear top edge of said plate support stabilizing member is coplanar with said linear top edge of said upper support when inserted therein.  
   
   
       9 . The kit of  claim 1 , further wherein said plate support member further comprises a slotted opening extending from said beverage holding aperture along a longitudinal axis of said plate support member, wherein said slot is complementary to said slot in said plate securement member allowing said plate support member to be inserted therein.  
   
   
       10 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said platform portion of said plate support member is approximately circular.  
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said plate securement member includes an upwardly angled slotted opening therein oriented toward said platform portion and configured to form a clip to secure hold plate rim therein.  
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said annular beverage grip has an opening therein coincident with a longitudinal axis of said plate support member.  
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interfitting components are constructed from press board paper product.  
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of interfitting components are punch cut from press board paper product.  
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of plurality of interfitting components are constructed from plastic.  
   
   
       16 . A one-handed support for a disposable plate and a beverage, comprising; 
 a horizontally oriented elongated base adapted for placement on a support surface, a vertically oriented central hand-grippable connecting member having an upper end and a lower end, said base having front and rear sections contiguous to and extending diametrically from said lower end of said vertical central hand-grippable connecting member, said rear section including a perpendicular stabilizing member affixed thereto adapted for placement on a support surface; said front section having a beverage support affixed thereto configured to receive the base of a drinking vessel and hold the vessel in an upright position normal to said base, a plate support member having a circular platform contiguous to and extending perpendicular from said connecting member in parallel alignment with said rear section of said base; a plate securement member extending upwardly from said connecting member substantially normal to said platform and having an angled slotted aperture therein adjacent said platform configured to hold the rim of a plate resting thereon, and an annular beverage grip extending therefrom defining an approximately circular beverage receiving aperture positioned to be coaxially aligned with said beverage support, whereby said connecting member is available as a hand grip, and a plate can be placed on said plate support member and a beverage can be placed in said beverage holder and held upright therein with said annular beverage grip.    
   
   
       17 . The support of  claim 16 , wherein said support is constructed from press board paper product.  
   
   
       18 . The support of  claim 16 , wherein said support is constructed from injection molded plastic.