Serving assembly

Abstract

A serving assembly comprises a plurality of serving bowls, and an associated bowl holder for releasably retaining the serving bowls, so that the serving bowls and bowl holder can be conveniently handled as an integrated unit. The bowl holder includes a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from the handle portion, with the support portions configured to respectively receive the plurality of serving bowls. The bowl holder is provided with a plurality of retention elements which respectively engage the serving bowls so that each bowl is securely, yet releasably, retained by the bowl holder. Convenient, simultaneous serving of different food items or the like is thus facilitated.

1 . A serving assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of serving bowls, each of said serving bowls having a base portion, and an upstanding sidewall extending upwardly from said base portion and terminating in a rim portion; and   a bowl holder for releasably retaining said plurality of bowls, said bowl holder comprising a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from said handle portion, said support portions being configured to respectively receive said plurality of bowl, to facilitate simultaneously carrying said bowls with said bowl holder for serving food or the like from said bowls.   
     
     
         2 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said handle portion of said bowl holder has a plurality retention elements respectively operatively associated with said plurality of support portions, each of said retention elements being engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of said serving bowls when said serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of said bowl holder.   
     
     
         3 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein
 each said retention elements has a generally downwardly open configuration for releasably engaging the rim portion of the respective one of said serving bowls.   
     
     
         4 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein
 each of said support portions of said bowl holder has an upturned free edge which is generally complementary to the base portion of each of said serving bowls, each of said serving bowls being releasably retained on said bowl holder by: (1) disposition of the base portion of each serving bowl within the free edge of the respective one of said support portions; and (2) the engagement of the rim portion of the bowl with the respective one of said retention elements.   
     
     
         5 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said handle portion of said bowl holder has a generally downwardly, outwardly tapering configuration, including a plurality of panels from which said support portions respectively extend, each side edge of each of said panels being spaced from a side edge of an adjacent one of said panels to define openings in said handle to facilitate grasping of said handle portion.   
     
     
         6 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein
 said bowl holder includes three of said panels arranged in evenly spaced apart relationship, said bowl holder having a plurality of retention elements respectively positioned on said panels, each of said retention elements being engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of said serving bowls when said serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of said bowl holder.   
     
     
         7 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said bowl holder is configured for nested stacking with another one of said bowl holders, so that plural serving assemblies can be stacked.   
     
     
         8 . A serving assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of serving bowls, each of said serving bowls having a base portion, and an upstanding sidewall extending upwardly from said base portion and terminating in a rim portion; and   a bowl holder for releasably retaining said plurality of bowls, said bowl holder comprising a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from said handle portion, said support portions being configured to respectively receive said plurality of bowl, to facilitate simultaneously carrying said bowls with said bowl holder for serving food or the like from said bowls,   said handle portion of said bowl holder having a plurality retention elements respectively operatively associated with said plurality of support portions, each of said retention elements being engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of said serving bowls when said serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of said bowl holder,   each of said support portions of said bowl holder having an upturned free edge which is generally complementary to the base portion of each of said serving bowls, each of said serving bowls being releasably retained on said bowl holder by: (1) disposition of the base portion of each serving bowl within the free edge of the respective one of said support portions; and (2) the engagement of the rim portion of the bowl with the respective one of said retention elements.   
     
     
         9 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said handle portion of said bowl holder has a generally downwardly, outwardly tapering configuration, including a plurality of panels from which said support portions respectively extend, each side edge of each of said panels being spaced from a side edge of an adjacent one of said panels to define openings in said handle to facilitate grasping of said handle portion.   
     
     
         10 . A serving assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said bowl holder includes a plurality of struts respectively extending between adjacent ones of said support portions to enhance the integrity of the bowl holder.