Improvements in "Party" Plates.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in "Party" Plates.
I, RODMOND GIBBONS of 105 Waverly Place in the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to obviate, at social entertainments, the inconvenience
and damage to clothing, incident to serving and managing, at the same time, away
from a table, two or more kinds of refreshment such as are usually supplied for
guests say, one, a beverage served in a wine glass or tumbler, the others including
what partakes of the character of custard or cream or of a stew or a salad with a
fluid dressing or gravy, and which are commonly served on a plate which does not
admit of a resting place for a wine glass or tumbler, free from contact with the said
custard, cream, gravy or dressing.
It is known that in serving two or more kinds of refreshment as above mentioned,
at the same time, away from a table, in a crowded company, without a salver, it
requires the use of both hands and involves the imminent risk of spilling. It is
also known that a person receiving such plate and glass with such refreshments, is
generally obliged, when sitting, to hold the glass constantly in one hand and rest
the plate on the lap while partaking of said refreshments, and that, when standing,
no person can conveniently or safely manage both such plate and glass in partaking
of such refreshments.
My invention relates to means for overcoming these difficulties, and it consists of
what I call "a combination party plate," the certain parts of which are fully set forth
in, and claimed at the end of this specification.
In order that persons skilled in the art may understand, construct and use my
invention, I will proceed to describe it, referring to the drawings in which,
Figure 1, is a plan view of my invention, showing the glass-stand eccentrically
located on the plate ;
Figure 2 is a central cross section of the said plate and glass-stand, and also
represents a wine glass in elevation. It shows a depression in the top of the stand
to set the glass in, and a recess on the under surface beneath, to provide for the
proper nesting and piling of the plates, and to form a convenient hand-hold for both
plate and glass.
Figure 3, is a bottom view of Figure 1, showing the circular shape of the recess
beneath the glass-stand;
Figure 4, shows in plan view the glass-stand and hand-hold placed further from
the centre of the plate;
Figure 5 shows a top view of the natural hold on plate and tumbler.
Figure 6 shows a top view of the natural bold of a plate and wine glass, and
Figure 7, shows a side view of hold on plate and tumbler.
a is the outer rim of the plate; 6 is the central portion or platen; c is the circular
depression in the stand on the plate for holding a glass above the dishing part of the
plate; d is the recess beneath, produced by raising up the material of the plate to
form the glass-stand; e is the beading on the lower surface of the plate, for the
plate to rest upon; is the rim surrounding the circular depression c, which prevents
the glass from moving sidewise, and is substantially as high as the rim of the plate,
or a little higher, so as to prevent the liquid in a stew, salad or other food that may
be served on the plate, from flowing over the rim, and flooding the surface of the
glass-stand.
It will be observed that the glass-stand in my plate is so constructed as to form:
also, and of itself, a hand-hold for the plate, (by "hand-hold "I mean a part the

page_text: most convenient to grasp with the hand), and thus it is made to serve a two-fold
purpose; also, that said glass-stand is so near the verge of the rim of the plate that
it enables any person holding the plate to securely grasp or hold, at the same time,
a wine glass or tumbler, when placed on the stand, and to release the same at will,
with a slight movement of the forefinger and thumb, without changing the position
of the hand or losing full control of the plate, and thus to perform a double service
with one hand; and that the resting place of the glass or tumbler, with plate in
hand, being between the thumb and forefinger of the hand grasping the plate, (the
hand being in the most natural position) the said glass or tumbler may be repeatedly
taken from the stand and returned to its secure resting place, without the use of the
eyes or any conscious exertion of the will.
From the foregoing it will be understood that after the usual helping of terrapin,
stewed oysters, ices or any kind of refreshment, may have been put on the plate
described, a glass or a tumbler of wine or other beverage, may be set upon the glass-
stand c, and that the construction of my invention is such as to enable a person to
take both plate and glass in one hand, and with thumb, or with thumb and fore finger,
he can conveniently hold the bottom of the glass or tumbler, and carry both plate
and glass through a crowded company with the minimum risk of accident.
It will also be understood that any person, whether standing or sitting, away from
a table, will be enabled to hold both plate and glass in one band, and partake of
the two or more kinds of refreshment at will, without inconvenience and with the
minimum risk of accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is ;-
As a new article of manufacture, a plate provided on one side with a hand-hold,
the top of which forins a glass-stand, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 11th day of February 1890.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.