Abstract:
A plate that removably engages to a drinking glass is described. The plate includes an upper surface that receives a food item. The plate further includes a bottom surface. The bottom surface includes an engaging member to removably engage to the drinking glass. The engaging member may include a conical bottom of the plate, concentric ridges on the bottom of the plate, a channel or slit in the bottom of the plate, or partial curved ridges. All of these designs allow the plate to be removably engaged or secured to the top of the drinking glass.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a plate that removably engages to a drinking glass. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    At many banquets, parties, balls, receptions or other types of events where food and drinks are simultaneously served, individuals are forced to engage in the unwieldy task of holding both a plate and a drinking glass at the same time, while trying to eat, drink, and engage other individuals in conversation. The individuals may have difficulty balancing both the plate and the glass, while also maintaining control of a fork, napkin, etc. Moreover, individuals at such events are inclined to meet and shake hands with other individuals. While trying to accomplish so many tasks at once, the individuals are likely to spill or lose control of their drinking glass and/or plate. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a plate that removably engages to a drinking glass. The plate includes an upper surface that receives a food item. The plate further includes a bottom surface. The bottom surface includes an engaging member to removably engage to the drinking glass. The engaging member fits over or receives a rim of the drinking glass. By engaging the drinking glass, the plate is positioned on top of the drinking glass such that the plate may be temporarily stored on top of the plate. The engaging member of the plate holds the plate to the top of the drinking glass to reduce the likelihood of the plate slipping off of the top of the glass. 
         [0004]    Typically, the plate is a cocktail plate or appetizer plate. Such plates are generally much smaller in diameter than a regular dinner plate. The size of the cocktail plate or appetizer plate is well suited to include the engaging member and be positioned on top of the drinking glass. The larger dinner plate is generally too wide in diameter to securely balance on top of the drinking glass. 
         [0005]    The plates described herein include the engaging member to removably engage to the drinking glass. The plates generally include the upper surface that receives the food, and a bottom or the bottom surface that includes or forms the engaging member to removably engage to the drinking glass. 
         [0006]    The use of the plate, in combination with the drinking glass, allows for the individual to hold the glass, while the plate is removably engaged to the top of the glass. The plate is secured sufficiently to the plate for the individual to walk and mingle with other individuals. The individual has a free hand to use for eating or to shake hands with another individual. 
         [0007]    The engaging member removably engages to the plate such that the plate may be conveniently removed from the drinking glass and temporarily stored on the drinking glass. Although the plate is removably engaged to the glass, the plate will slide or fall from the glass if the glass is turned at too sharp of an angle, such as perpendicular to the ground. 
         [0008]    The engaging member may include a conical bottom of the plate, concentric ridges on the bottom of the plate, a channel or slit in the bottom of the plate, or partial curved ridges. All of these designs allow the plate to be removably engaged or secured to the top of the drinking glass. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the first embodiment of the plate with the conical bottom. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the plate with the conical bottom. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the plate with the inner ridge and the outer ridge. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the plate with the inner ridge and the outer ridge. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the third embodiment of the plate with the channel in the bottom surface of the plate. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the plate with the channel in the bottom surface of the plate. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the channel of the third embodiment of the plate with the channel in the bottom surface of the plate. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the lined channel of the third embodiment of the plate with the channel in the bottom surface of the plate. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fourth embodiment of the plate with the partial curved ridges extending from the bottom of the plate. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the plate with the partial curved ridges extending from the bottom of the plate. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a view of the glass. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a view of the plate with the conical bottom engaging the glass. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The plates will now be described with reference to Figures. A plate  100  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1A . The plate  100  includes an upper surface  110  and a bottom surface  120 . The upper surface  110  may be generally flat to concave in order to hold and support the food items. A plate rim  130  extends around the diameter of the plate  100 . The plate  100  may have a diameter of approximately three to approximately seven inches, with certain embodiments having a diameter of approximately four inches. The plate  100  may have an overall thickness of approximately ¼ to approximately 1 inch, with certain embodiments having a thickness of approximately ⅝ inches. 
         [0022]    A glass  140  is shown in  FIG. 5  for engagement to the plate  100 . Although the glass  140  is shown as a cocktail glass, other types of glasses, including wine glasses, water glasses, pint glasses, champagne flutes, etc. may be used with the plate  100  and other plates herein described. 
         [0023]    The bottom surface  120  of the plate  100  includes a conical bottom  150  that extends from the bottom surface  120 . The bottom surface  120  includes sloping surfaces  160  that lead into or define the conical bottom  150 . The conical bottom  150  provides the engaging member to removably engage to the glass  140 . The conical bottom  150  further includes a generally flat support surface  155  for use when the plate  100  is set upon a table, bar, etc. The extending or protruding nature of the conical bottom  150  provides for removable engagement to the glass  140 . 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the glass  140  includes a glass rim  180  and a glass bowl  190 . The glass rim  180  is the perimeter of an upper portion of the glass  140 . Glass walls  195  transition from the glass rim  180  to the glass bowl  190 . The beverage is contained by the glass bowl  190 . The glass rim  180  includes an interior portion  184  in the glass bowl  190 . The glass rim  180  further includes an exterior portion  188  on the exterior of the glass  140 . The glass rim  180  further includes an upper surface  186 , which is the top surface of the glass rim  180 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the conical bottom  150  of the plate  100  protrudes or extends into the glass bowl  190  when the plate  100  is set upon the glass rim  180  of the glass  140 . The conical bottom  150  includes contact points  165  on the sloping surfaces  160  that physically contact a portion of the glass rim  180 . Typically, the contact points  165  will contact the interior portion  184  of the glass rim  180 . 
         [0026]    When the user wishes to drink from the glass  140 , the user merely grasps the plate  100  and lifts the plate  100  and its conical bottom  150  from the glass bowl  190 , or the user may hold the plate  100  steady and lower the glass  140  in order to separate the plate  100  from the glass  140 . After drinking from the glass  140 , the user may once again set the plate  100  onto the glass  140  and engage the glass  140  to the conical bottom  150 . 
         [0027]    The sloping surfaces  160  slope at an angle of approximately 35° to 70° relative to the plate  100  in order to create a balance of the plate  100  resting on the glass  140 . In other embodiments, the sloping surfaces  160  form an angle of approximately 45° to approximately 60° relative to the plate  100 . The conical bottom  150  will have a diameter at the contact points  165  that is slightly less than the diameter of the glass rim  180  such that the conical bottom  150  will engage into the bowl  190 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a portion of the conical bottom  150  is positioned in the interior of the glass bowl  190 . The distance of extension by the conical bottom  150  into the glass bowl  190  provides a securing and removable engagement between the plate  100  and the glass  140 . As such, portions of the conical bottom  150  and its support surface  155  are sitting below the glass rim  180  and into the bowl  190  of the glass  140 . This configuration provides for stability and maintains the positioning of the plate  100  on the glass  140 . 
         [0029]    A second embodiment of the plate will now be described. With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , a plate  200  is shown. The plate  200  includes an upper surface  210  and a bottom surface  220 . The plate  200  further includes a plate rim  230 . The bottom surface  220  of the plate  200  includes an inner circular ridge  150  and an outer circular ridge  170 . The inner circular ridge  150  and the outer circular ridge  170  provide the engaging member to removably engage to the glass  140 . The inner circular ridge  150  and the outer circular ridge  170  are arranged as concentric circular ridges with the inner circular ridge  150  being fully within the diameter of the outer circular ridge  170 . 
         [0030]    The inner circular ridge  150  includes an inner ridge surface  154  and an exterior ridge surface  158 . The outer circular ridge  170  includes an inner ridge surface  174  and an exterior ridge surface  178 . A portion  225  of the bottom surface  220  is located between the exterior ridge surface  158  and the inner ridge surface  174 . The exterior ridge surface  158  and the inner ridge surface  174  further define a space  175 . 
         [0031]    When the plate  200  is positioned on top of the glass  140 , the glass rim  180  is received into the space  175  between the exterior ridge surface  158  and the inner ridge surface  174 . The upper surface  186  of the glass rim  180  receives the portion  225  of the bottom surface  220 , as such, the portion  225  rests on the upper surface  186 . The exterior ridge surface  158  may contact or touch the inner portion  184  of the glass  140 , while the inner ridge surface  174  may touch or contact the exterior portion  188  of the glass  140 . 
         [0032]    The space  175  between the exterior ridge surface  158  and the inner ridge surface  174  should be of sufficient width to accommodate the rim  180  of the glass  140 . Generally, the space  175  will range from approximately ⅕ inch to approximately ½ inch in width. The space  175  may vary depending on the type and style of the glass  140 . For example, a glass  140  that is a wine glass may have a smaller wall thickness than a pint glass. 
         [0033]    The inner circular ridge  150  has an external diameter slightly smaller than an internal diameter of the drinking glass  140 , while the outer circular ridge  170  has an internal diameter slightly larger than an external diameter of the drinking glass  140 . When positioned on the drinking glass  140 , the inner ridge  150  is partially extending into the glass bowl  190 . 
         [0034]    A third embodiment of the glass plate is shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A, and  3   b . A plate  300  is shown with an upper surface  310  and a bottom surface  320 . The plate  300  includes a plate rim  330 . The bottom surface  320  of the plate  300  includes a channel or a slit  360  formed in the bottom surface  320 . The channel or slit  360  provides the engaging member to removably engage to the glass  140 . 
         [0035]    The channel  360  includes recessed wall  350  that leads into a channel surface  365 . The recessed walls  350  further define a channel space  375 . The channel  360  generally forms a circular indention or slit in the bottom surface  320  of the plate  300 . The glass rim  180  is inserted into the channel  360  when the plate  300  is lowered onto the glass  140 . The upper surface  186  of the glass rim  180  contacts the channel surface  365  such that the channel surface  365  is resting upon the upper surface  186 . The channel  360  has a width slightly larger than a width of the rim  180  of the drinking glass  140 . The channel  360  may have a curved or rectangular cross-section. 
         [0036]    In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the channel  360  may be lined with a non-stick member  395 . The non-stick member may include a rubber or elastomeric material that increases the friction between the glass rim  180  and the plate  100 . The non-stick material  395  may fully line the channel  360  or may intermittently be positioned in the channel  360 . 
         [0037]    A fourth embodiment of the plate is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A . A plate  400  includes an upper surface  410  and a bottom surface  420 . The plate  400  includes a plate rim  430 . The bottom surface of the plate  400  includes partial curved ridges  450 . The plate  400  includes a plurality of the partial curved ridges  450 , which extend from the bottom surface  420  of the plate  400 . The partial curved ridges  450  have a curved or arcuate shape that is complimentary to the shape of the glass rim  188 . The partial curved ridges  450  provide the engaging member to removably engage to the glass  140 . 
         [0038]    Each partial curved ridge  450  includes an exterior ridge surface  454  and an inner ridge surface  458 . The glass rim  180  may rest against or be adjacent to either the exterior ridge surface  454  or the inner ridge surface  458 . As such, the partial curved ridges  450  may fit into the bowl  190  of the glass  140  with the exterior ridge surface  454  in contact with or adjacent to the interior portion  184  of the glass rim  180 . And, in the alternative, the inner ridge surface  458  of the partial curved ridge  450  may rest against the exterior portion  188  of the glass rim  180 . 
         [0039]    The plates  100 ,  200 ,  300 , and  400  may be made from typical plate manufacturing materials and using typical plate manufacturing processes. The plates  100 ,  200 ,  300 , and  400  may be made from china, porcelain, stoneware, plastic, glass, stone, resins, tempered glass, etc. 
         [0040]    It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited by the specification; instead, the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.