Abstract:
According to at least one embodiment, a fastenable food dish for adjustably engaging a table, the fastenable food dish comprising a base having a bottom surface for placement on the table, an upper surface opposite the bottom surface, and a well defined in the upper surface; at least one clamp attached to the bottom of said base, the clamp having an adjustable pad facing the bottom surface of said base for engaging the table between the adjustable pad and the bottom surface of said base; and a tray removably seated in the well of said base, the tray defining at least one upper-facing food compartment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a fastenable food dish. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fastenable food dish for adjustably engaging a table. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    During many family dinners children remove their plates from the table. For example, children receiving food frequently lift their plates from the table, leaving food all over the floor, soiling their clothes and other persons. 
         [0003]    While children&#39;s food dishes have proven successful in transitioning children to eating solid food, they have not alleviated the burden of the children covering themselves and other persons with food. This can cause adults frustration. Such frustration can lead to an increased likelihood of poor parenting as well as substantial amounts of time being wasted cleaning the home. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there remains a need for a fastenable food dish which keeps the food on the table and off the child, floor, and other persons. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to at least one embodiment, a fastenable food dish for adjustably engaging a table, the fastenable food dish comprising a base having a bottom surface for placement on the table, an upper surface opposite the bottom surface, and a well defined in the upper surface; at least one clamp attached to the bottom of said base, the clamp having an adjustable pad facing the bottom surface of said base for engaging the table between the adjustable pad and the bottom surface of said base; and a tray removably seated in the well of said base, the tray defining at least one upper-facing food compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of a fastenable food dish  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective top view of the fastenable food dish  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective bottom view of the fastenable food dish  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective top view of a removable tray  40 , according to a first alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective top view of a fastenable tray base  50 , according to a second alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    The invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0013]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
         [0014]    The present invention describes a fastenable food dish (herein described as “the device”)  10 , which provides a means for removably fastening the device  10  onto a regular table  62 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental perspective view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  is depicted as removably fastened onto a table  62  and located in front of a child  60  seated on a chair  61 . The device  10  comprises a removable tray wherein an upper portion comprises a first divider  13 , a cup compartment  12 , a second divider  14 , separating a first food compartment  16  from a second food compartment  17  and a third food compartment  18 . A third divider  15  separates the second food compartment  17  from the third food compartment  18 . A lower portion of the base  11  includes locking tabs  21  for a removable bowl. A lower portion of the base  11  comprises an integral first clamp  23  and a corresponding similar integral second clamp  24 , wherein each clamp  23 ,  24 , comprises a threaded spindle  25 . The upper end of the threaded spindle  25  comprises a pad  27  and the lower end of the spindle  25  comprises a knob  26  which allows the spindle  25  to be manually rotated. The pair of threaded spindles  25  are envisioned to be made of plastic, aluminum or stainless steel, whereas the pair knobs  26  are made of plastic and permanently bonded onto the bottom end portion of each threaded spindle  25 . Each pad  27  comprises of a non-marring face made of material such as rubber, NYLON®, or TEFLON® and is pivotally fastened onto the top end portion of each threaded spindle  25 . 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a perspective top view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A lower portion of the base includes locking tabs  21  for receiving a removable bowl. A lower portion of the base  11  comprises an integral first clamp  23  and a corresponding similar integral second clamp  24 , wherein each clamp  23 ,  24 , comprises a threaded spindle  25 . The upper end of the threaded spindle  25  comprises a pad  27  and the lower end of the spindle  25  comprises a knob  26  which allows the spindle  25  to be manually rotated. The pair of threaded spindles  25  are envisioned to be made of plastic, aluminum or stainless steel, whereas the pair knobs  26  are made of plastic and permanently bonded onto the bottom end portion of each threaded spindle  25 . Each pad  27  comprises of a non-marring face made of material such as rubber, NYLON®, or TEFLON® and is pivotally fastened onto the top end portion of each threaded spindle  25 . A lower portion of the base  11  has a border  64 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a perspective bottom view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The bottom portion of the base  11  comprises the integral clamps  23 ,  24 , each comprising the assembly of the threaded spindle  25 , the knob  26  and the pad  27 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a perspective top view of a removable tray, according to a first alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The removable tray comprises a border  62 ,  66  and food area divider members  13 ,  16  which are similar to those comprised within the device  10 , and are therefore designated by like symbols. The removable tray is envisioned as a molded a micro-wave compatible plastic product. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a perspective top view of a fastenable tray base, according to a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The fastenable tray base further comprises a recess  54 ,  56  for inserting one&#39;s finger to raise the plastic flaps  58 ,  60  for use with a high chair tray. The fastenable base further comprises a removable bowl  22 . The bowl  22  includes locking tabs  21  which allow the bowl  22  to be attached when inserted. The fastenable tray base further comprises a recessed bowl receiving area  28  and a button hinge  29  which, when pressed raises the locking tab and allows the bowl to be turned and removed. A lower portion of the base comprises an integral first clamp  23  and a corresponding similar integral second clamp  24 . A fastenable food dish further comprises a base with a pivoting hinge  52  with a button for removing the tray. A fastenable food dish further comprises a recessed lip  53  for receiving the spring loaded pivot hinge  52  on the docking station to lock the tray into place. The fastenable base further comprises a border  64 , 68 . 
         [0020]    It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0021]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: grasping the knob  26  at the first clamp  23  location with a first hand; rotating the spindle  25  counterclockwise until a space between the pad  27  and the underside surface portion of the tray  11  is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the top of the table  62 ; repeating similar steps at the second clamp location; sliding the tray  11  onto a chosen location at the table  62 ; retaining the location of the tray  11  with a second hand; using the first hand to alternately rotate each knob  26  into a clockwise direction; securing the location of the tray by tightening each spindle  25  in the clockwise direction; serving the child  60 ; following the installing steps in a reverse order to uninstall the device  10 ; cleaning the tray  11 ; and, storing the device  10 . 
         [0023]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.