Patent Description:
The subject invention relates to a food and drink holder, and in particular, to a food and drink holder configured to mount in drink holders attached to seats or armrests at a public venue including but not limited to sporting arenas and stadiums, movie theatres, performance theatres and auditoriums.

Most public venues have concession stands where patrons may purchase food and drink to take back to their seats to consume while watching an event. It is difficult to hold a drink and food items while sitting at such an event as there is no table provided at most seats, and patrons often need their hands free to clap or read programs. Many concession stands offer disposable paperboard trays that may contain one or more cup holding compartments/areas and an open tray to place food items in. However, as most seats don't have tables, such a paperboard tray must be balanced on a user's lap. These paperboard trays are not very sturdy and activity such as moving or clapping can cause a cup to tip out of the holder or for the tray to fall off the user's lap. Condiments may also end up soiling the user's clothing.

To help alleviate this problem with current trays, many venues have added rigid cup holders to the seats or arm rests. Commonly, such rigid cup holders are located in the back of the row of seats in front and generally between the seats as the backs of the seats generally do not extend backward as far at the side ends. Alternately, cup holders have been added at forward ends of the seat armrests. While these cup holders have proven very beneficial for holding drinks at such venues as discussed above, they still do not help with the paperboard trays for food that must be help by hand of the users or balanced on the laps thereof.

In an attempt to address the above noted shortcomings of holding drinks and food at public venues combined beverage and food trays have been developed that are designed to mount in cup holders at public venues. One such unit is a beverage and container holder disclosed in <CIT>et al. <CIT> discloses an assembly having a beverage holder compartment and provides one or more surfaces for food and beverage placement, writing etc. It is adapted for use in theaters, stadiums, convention halls and home entertainment centers. The assembly is removably supported in the seat arm beverage/cup holder. The position is adjustable. The tray in Macias et al. is not suitable; however for beverage holders mounted to the backs of the seats in the forward row. It would also be cost prohibitive as a disposable item at concession stands.

Also, <CIT>discloses a portable customizable swiveling concession tray.

The tray in Bergin is removably securable to a pre-existing container holder such that the tray and container holder can swivel about the connection of the tray to the seat. The connection includes a customizable insert which can be of different heights depending upon the pre-existing holder. It is particularly designed for mounting to a holder in an armrest and would not be suitable for mounting to a holder in the back of the forward row of seats. The tray and connecting insert disclosed in Bergin would also be cost prohibitive as a disposable item for concession stands.

<CIT> discloses an article storage system for supporting at least one article thereon and mountable to a support frame. The article storage system includes a tray structure having first and second portions, a clamping structure which mounts the tray structure to the support frame and attachment structure for attaching the tray structure to the clamping structure. The first portion of the tray structure includes a first sidewall which defines a first, open-topped, receptacle and the second portion of the tray structure includes a second sidewall which defines a second receptacle and a lid structure rotatably affixed to the second sidewall. The lid structure includes a planar main body portion having upper and lower side surfaces, a first sidewall extending upwardly from the upper side surface for defining a first enclosed area for receiving loose articles therein when the lid structure is in a closed position and a second sidewall extending downwardly from the lower side surface for defining a second enclosed area for receiving loose articles therein when the lid structure is in an open position.

<CIT> S1 shows a car caddy with two cylindrical compartments and a rectangular top compartment which is provided with a cover which can be moved between an open and closed position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a food and drink holder that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and is removably mountable to a rigid beverage container holder attached to seat backs or armrests at a public venue.

The invention relates to a food and drink holder according to the appended claims. Particularly, a food and drink holder configured to be removably mounted to a cup holder attached to seats or an arm rest is provided that includes a drink receptacle. The drink receptacle includes a generally cylindrical sidewall having a central axis, and the sidewall is configured to be removably mounted in an opening in the cup holder. The food and drink holder also includes a food receptacle having a pair of sidewalls, a front wall, an end wall, a bottom wall, and a top end. The top end of the food receptacle extends at an angle less than <NUM>° to the central axis of the sidewall of the drink receptacle. The food and drink holder further includes a flange extending at least partially around an upper end of the food and drink holder. The flange extends around the sidewalls and end wall of the food receptacle and transitions to flare up on at least a portion of the drink receptacle, the flange forming a small lip about a portion thereof coinciding with the sidewall of the drink receptacle.

The drink receptacle of the food and drink holder may have an open bottom and at least one tab extending from the sidewall of the drink receptacle. The at least one tab can engage the cup holder to removably secure the food and drink holder thereto.

The flange may extend completely around the food and drink holder, and the flange around the food receptacle can be at an angle to the flange around the drink receptacle.

The food and drink holder may have a drink receptacle with a bottom wall and apertures in at least one of the sidewall or bottom wall of the drink receptacle.

The food and drink holder may further include a brace. The brace may engage the cup holder to removably secure the food and drink holder thereto.

The food and drink holder may further include at least one indentation in at least one of the sidewall or bottom wall of the drink receptacle and at least one indentation in at least one of the bottom wall or sidewalls of the food receptacle.

The brace of the food and drink holder may be formed in the front wall of the food receptacle. The brace may have a front wall, a bottom ledge, and two side ledges. The front wall of the brace may be configured to engage the cup holder.

The drink receptacle may have a bottom wall and apertures in at least one of the sidewall or bottom wall. The drink receptacle may have at least one indentation in at least one of the sidewall or bottom wall. The food receptacle may also have at least one indentation in the sidewall or bottom wall thereof. The at least one indentation in the drink receptacle may have a generally L-shaped configuration. The food and drink holders may be configured to be stacked together, and the orientation or position of the indentations in the drink receptacle or the food receptacle are varied for subsequently stacked food and drink holders.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a food and drink holder is provided that is configured to be removably mounted to a cup holder attached to seats or an arm rest that includes a drink receptacle wherein the drink receptacle includes a generally cylindrical sidewall. The sidewall may be configured to be removably mounted in an opening of the cup holder. The food and drink holder may also include a food receptacle having a pair of sidewalls, a front wall, an end wall, a bottom wall, and a top end. The food and drink holder may also be provided with a flange extending around the sidewalls and end wall at the top end of the food receptacle and transitioning to flare up at least a portion of the sidewall of the drink receptacle.

The food and drink holder may include indentations in the sidewall of the drink receptacle and indentations in at least the sidewalls or bottom wall of the food receptacle. The indentations in the drink receptacle may have a generally L-shaped configuration, and the food and drink holder may be configured to be stackable with one another. The orientation of the bottom of the L-shaped indentations may be varied on subsequent stacked food and drink holders. The location of the indentations in the food receptacle may be varied on subsequent stacked food and drink holders.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate only possible embodiments of the systems, devices and methods and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and simply illustrate the principles of the devices and methods.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates and invention that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The food and drink holders described in this application are portable dual-purpose drink and food holders that clip into or attaches to a traditional cup holder mounted to a seat or arm rest in a public venue to enhance the utility of the cup holder, rendering it capable of supporting food as well as drink. While the food and drink holders can be used in a variety of settings, it is particularly useful at stadiums, arenas, and movie theaters. Besides making the cup holder dual purpose, the food and drink holder creates more space for the patron's legs, leads to fewer accidents from either the patron's legs or other event-goer's legs, frees the patron's hands for other purposes, and creates an overall better eating experience.

Referring now to <FIG>, one embodiment of a food and drink holder not in accordance with the subject invention is generally indicated as <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> includes a generally cylindrical drink receptacle, which is generally indicated as <NUM>, and a generally rectangular food receptacle, which is generally indicated as <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> has a generally cylindrical sidewall <NUM> having tabs <NUM> extending therefrom. Drink receptacle <NUM> is shown with an open bottom <NUM>, and slots <NUM> that separate the tabs <NUM> form sidewall <NUM>. Sidewall <NUM> has a central axis extending there through. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the central axis is in the center of sidewall <NUM> extending into and perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Food receptacle <NUM> includes sidewalls <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, an end or rear wall <NUM>, and a generally solid bottom wall <NUM>. In other embodiments, the bottom of the drink receptacle can be closed or partially closed. Bottom wall <NUM> includes reinforcing or stiffening ribs <NUM>. A collar, flange or lip, which is generally indicated as <NUM>, is provided around the top circumference of food and drink holder <NUM>. As should be appreciated flange <NUM> provides stiffness and rigidity to the food and drink holder to hold the weight of food items in food receptacle <NUM> without bending or collapsing. Flange <NUM>/the top of food receptacle <NUM> extends approximately perpendicular to the central axis of sidewall <NUM> of the drink receptacle <NUM>. A connecting portion, generally indicted as <NUM> connects drink receptacle <NUM> and food receptacle <NUM> into a single unitary configuration.

The food and drink holder and any of its component parts can be formed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to plant materials, food grade plastics, compostable materials, pressed molded fiber or pulp, disposable plastic, durable plastic, polystyrene, cardboard, wood, or mesh materials. For example, a recyclable version could be manufactured from molded fiber or recycled materials. This version could be disposable or single use. Other embodiments can be formed from polymers or plastics that allow the food and drink holder to be cleaned and reused. Embodiments can also be decorated with marks or designs specific to the events or preferences of the user (e.g., favorite sports team or advertising). In one version of the food and drink holder, the holder is manufactured from a mixture of sugar cane residue (called bagasse) and bamboo. Bagasse is a fibrous material that remains after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice. It has been determined that a ratio of <NUM> percent bagasse and <NUM> percent bamboo can provide a material that is very suitable for molding an inexpensive tray that is rigid enough to hold food and drink cups, but which is also readily biodegradable. Alternately, a mixture of <NUM> percent eucalyptus plant and <NUM> percent bamboo has also been found to be suitable for the same reasons.

When in use, the drink receptacle <NUM> can be inserted into a cup holder or receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>, as seen in <FIG>. Here, the cup holder <NUM> is attached to the back <NUM> of a row of seats <NUM>. This allows the individuals in the row behind the illustrated row <NUM> to set their drinks in the drink receptacle. Cup holder <NUM> is mounted in a region <NUM> between adjoining seats <NUM>. As the backs <NUM> of seats <NUM> are generally curved and extend back farthest in a central portion thereof, and extend back less at the edges, region <NUM> allows more room for attendees to sit without their legs or knees bumping into cup holder <NUM>. Cup holder <NUM> includes an attachment portion <NUM> and a circumferential sidewall <NUM>. The drink receptacle <NUM> is sized and shaped to insert in the cup holder <NUM>.

In embodiments, the drink receptacle <NUM> will support standard sized cups and can be sized and shaped for cups, bottles, cans, and the like. Other embodiments of the drink receptacle <NUM> will have varying diameters to hold various cup sizes, or different mechanisms to support cups, bottles, cans, and the like of various diameters.

Embodiments of the food and drink holder <NUM> are designed to hold a standard stadium cup <NUM> and a standard stadium concession serving dish <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Alternatively, the food receptacle <NUM> can be filled with food (not shown) without the need for an additional serving dish <NUM> or other sized serving dishes can be used to hold the food.

The food and drink holder <NUM> includes a locking mechanism that helps ensure that the food and drink holder <NUM> remains securely engaged with the cup holder <NUM>, even when the drink is removed from the drink receptacle <NUM>. To offset the weight of food, the tabs <NUM> of drink receptacle <NUM> secure the food and drink holder <NUM> to the cup holder <NUM>. See <FIG> for an illustration of this locking mechanism. As illustrated in <FIG>, the tabs extend from the bottom of the drink receptacle section <NUM> and engage the bottom of the cup holder <NUM>, which in this embodiment has an open or openings in the bottom thereof. In embodiments, the drink receptacle includes two tabs <NUM>, and the location of the two tabs is approximately <NUM> degrees apart on the circumference of the circle, as shown in <FIG>.

When sliding this embodiment of the food and drink holder <NUM> into place, the user slightly compresses the one or more tabs <NUM>, which slide down through the cup holder <NUM>. In other embodiments, the walls <NUM> of the cup holder <NUM> compress the one or more tabs <NUM> as the drink receptacle <NUM> is slid into position in the cup holder <NUM>. After passing through the cup holder <NUM>, the one or more tabs <NUM> expand, locking the food and drink holder <NUM> into place. The one or more tabs <NUM> allow the drink receptacle section <NUM> to rotate in the cup holder <NUM> so that the food receptacle <NUM> pivots around the cup holder <NUM>. This provides the flexibility to move the food and drink holder <NUM> when other event-goers pass by the user's seat and gives the user the flexibility to move the food and drink holder <NUM> to the user's preferred eating position.

To release the food and drink holder <NUM>, the user slightly compresses the one or more tabs <NUM>, which slide up through the cup holder <NUM>. Once released, the food and drink holder <NUM> could be used again in another location or could be recycled. In other embodiments, the number and location of the one or more tabs <NUM> may change. For example, in another embodiment, a single tab <NUM> opposite the food receptacle is sufficient to prevent excess weight in the food receptacle from over-balancing the food and drink holder <NUM>. Further, in another embodiment, the tab <NUM> could be replaced with another mechanism that exerts pressure on the cup holder <NUM> to secure the food and drink holder. For example, the food and drink holder <NUM> could be secured by a latch, fastener, or hinge.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, the drink receptacle <NUM> and the food receptacle <NUM> are connected near the top of each with connecting portion <NUM>. This connecting portion <NUM> near the top of the food receptacle <NUM> and the drink receptacle <NUM> allows the drink receptacle <NUM> to be inserted deeply in the cup holder <NUM>, which enhances the stability of the food and drink holder <NUM>.

In an illustrated embodiment, the food receptacle section <NUM> is about <NUM> (three inches) in height, as shown in <FIG>. The width of the food receptacle section <NUM> is <NUM> (six inches), as seen in <FIG>. The length of the food receptacle <NUM> is <NUM> (eight inches) as shown in <FIG>. The dimensions are designed to fit a standard stadium serving dish <NUM>, but the food receptacle <NUM> could be used without a serving dish. Also, other embodiments include varying sizes to accommodate other types of food carriers, such as a popcorn bowl.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in an embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical drink receptacle <NUM> section is about <NUM> (four inches). In other embodiments, the diameter is sized to accommodate a variety of drink sizes. Also, other embodiments can include a sleeve at the bottom of the drink receptacle <NUM> to support smaller drinks, cans, bottles, or the like. And other embodiments will include one or more tabs (not shown) in the interior of the drink receptacle to prevent smaller cups or bottled water from falling through the drink receptacle. These one or more tabs can be flexible enough to be pressed flat on the side wall to allow standard sized cups to be inserted in the drink receptacle.

Now referring to <FIG>, another embodiment of a food and drink holder not in accordance with the invention, is shown, generally indicted as <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> includes a drink receptacle <NUM> and a food receptacle <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> includes a sidewall <NUM>, a bottom wall <NUM>, and apertures <NUM> located partially in sidewall <NUM> and partially in bottom wall <NUM>.

Food receptacle <NUM> includes a pair of sidewalls <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a rear or end wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM>. Bottom wall <NUM> includes indented ribs or stiffeners on the embodiment shown, but as should be appreciated, these ribs are optional. In the embodiment shown, food receptacle <NUM> also optionally includes cut-outs <NUM>, which may optionally be indented ribs or stiffeners <NUM> in sidewalls <NUM>.

Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes a collar, flange or lip <NUM> around the upper circumference thereof to provided stiffness and rigidity to the food and drink holder <NUM>, as well as optional stiffeners <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> and food receptacle <NUM> are connected at or near the top of each (coinciding with flange <NUM>), with connecting portion <NUM>, but the receptacles <NUM> and <NUM> are not co-planar. As best shown in <FIG>, the top of the food receptacle <NUM> extends at an angle A from the drink receptacle <NUM>. Also, as should be appreciated, the angle A is less than perpendicular (or less than ninety degrees) to the central axis of sidewall <NUM> of drink receptacle <NUM>. In the embodiment of food and drink holder <NUM> the top of This angle A between the top of the food receptacle <NUM> and the top of the drink receptacle <NUM> compensates, at least in part, for the angle at which cup holders <NUM> are typically attached to the seats <NUM> in stadiums and the like, as seen in <FIG> and discussed in greater detail below with respect to that figure. The angle A is selected to ensure that, when the food and drink holder <NUM> is inserted into cup holder <NUM>, the contents of the food receptacle <NUM> do not spill over the sides <NUM> or end wall <NUM> of the food receptacle <NUM>. Additionally, having the food receptacle <NUM> connected to the drink receptacle <NUM> at an angle A allows for the sides <NUM> of the food receptacle <NUM> to be shorter, thus reducing weight and reducing the amount of material needed. In one embodiment, the angle A between the top of the food receptacle <NUM> and the top of the drink receptacle <NUM> is about ten (<NUM>) degrees. Such an angle A is sufficient to compensate for the typical seventeen (<NUM>) degree angle at which the cup holder <NUM> is placed on the back of a stadium seat <NUM>. In other embodiments, the angle A of the connection between the food and drink receptacles, <NUM>, <NUM> respectively, can vary to compensate for different angles at which cup holders <NUM> can be attached to the seat, and may range from zero (<NUM>) degrees, where the top of the food receptacle <NUM> and the top of the drink receptacle <NUM> are co-planar, to less than ninety (<NUM>) degrees.

As discussed above, <FIG> is a side view of this embodiment of the food and drink holder <NUM>, showing the angle A between the food receptacle <NUM> and the drink receptacle <NUM>. In this embodiment, the sides <NUM> of the food receptacle <NUM> are taller or higher at the end <NUM> of the food receptacle that is distal from the drink receptacle <NUM>. The sidewalls <NUM> of the food receptacle <NUM> increase in height such that the top of the food receptacle <NUM> (coinciding with flange <NUM>) is approximately parallel to the ground when engaged with a cup holder <NUM>, and the bottom <NUM> of the food receptacle <NUM> is co-planar with the bottom of the drink receptacle <NUM>. The increased height of the side walls <NUM> offset the angle A of the cup holder <NUM>. As shown, in this embodiment, the bottoms <NUM> and <NUM> of the food receptacle and the drink receptacle, respectively, are generally even or coplanar, allowing the food and drink holder <NUM> to rest evenly on a surface, such as a table.

<FIG> is a top view of the food and drink holder <NUM> and shows the drink receptacle <NUM> connected to the food receptacle <NUM> with connecting portion <NUM>. This embodiment does not include a locking mechanism or tabs to secure the drink receptacle section to the cup holder. However, the drink receptacle <NUM> includes the bottom surface <NUM> that supports drinks, including cups, bottles, cans, and the like. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sides <NUM> of the drink receptacle can include cut outs or apertures <NUM>. These apertures <NUM> allow liquid spilled in the drink receptacle <NUM> to drain and reduce the amount and cost of materials used to form the food and drink holder <NUM>. These apertures <NUM> also prevent a vacuum from forming between the cup <NUM>, bottle, can, or the like and the food and drink holder <NUM>. This reduces the chances of the food and drink holder <NUM> from being pulled out of the cup holder <NUM> when removing the cup <NUM>, bottle, can, or the like. In additional embodiments, the food receptacle 114may also include cut outs or apertures <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the embodiment of the food and drink holder <NUM> is positioned to be seated in a cup holder <NUM>. As shown, the cup holders <NUM> are attached to the stadium style seats <NUM> and are slightly angled away from the row of seats <NUM> to which they are attached and toward the row of seats <NUM> in the row behind. The cup holders <NUM> are attached to the backs <NUM> of the stadium seats <NUM> and are designed to be used by individuals seated in the row behind the seats <NUM> to which the cup holders <NUM> are attached. The angle of the cup holders <NUM> allow the user, seated in the row behind, to easily slide drinks <NUM> into and out of the cup holders <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the angle A between the drink receptacle <NUM> and the food receptacle <NUM> results in a food receptacle <NUM> that is approximately parallel to the ground when the drink receptacle <NUM> is seated within the cup holder <NUM>. The angle A in the structure of the food and drink holder <NUM> offsets the angle of the cup holder <NUM>. As a result, the top of the food receptacle <NUM> (coinciding with flange <NUM>) is approximately parallel to the ground, or at least at a lesser angle than the cup holder <NUM>. With this configuration, the food receptacle section <NUM> is better able to hold food and less likely to spill the contents of the food receptacle.

Referring now to <FIG>, food and drink holder <NUM> is shown with alternate apertures 118a in drink receptacle115. It should be appreciated that the features in the various embodiments herein, may be utilized in one another. For instance, apertures 118a may be used in any of the embodiments of the food and drink holders herein.

<FIG> and <FIG> show other embodiments of a food and drink holder <NUM>, where a brace is attached to a food receptacle <NUM> and is positioned between the food receptacle <NUM> and a drink receptacle <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> includes a sidewall <NUM>, a bottom wall <NUM> and apertures <NUM> extending into sidewall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>.

Food receptacle <NUM> includes a pair of sidewalls <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a rear or end wall <NUM>, and a bottom wall <NUM>. Bottom wall <NUM> may optionally include ribs or stiffeners <NUM> and sidewall <NUM> may optionally include either cut-outs or indented ribs <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> includes a collar, flange or lip <NUM> extending about the upper circumference thereof for rigidity and stiffness and may include stiffeners <NUM>. Brace <NUM> is located in front wall <NUM>. The brace <NUM> can be formed as a notch or fold in the wall of the food receptacle. The brace <NUM> is positioned to provide support for the food receptacle <NUM> and reduce stress on the connecting portion <NUM> between the food and drink receptacle <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, by engaging the sidewall of cup holder <NUM> to maintain the food receptacle's <NUM> position approximately parallel to the ground. The position of the brace <NUM> is designed to maintain an ergonomic design, where a finger can be slid between the receptacles for ease of carrying the food and drink holder.

Now referring to <FIG>, yet another alternate embodiment food and drink holder not in accordance with the invention, generally indicated as <NUM>, is disclosed. Food and drink holder <NUM> includes a drink receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>, and a food receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> includes a generally cylindrical sidewall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> also includes indentations <NUM> extending inwardly from sidewall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>. The embodiment depicted, indentations <NUM> have a generally L-shaped configuration for reasons discussed herein; however, it should be appreciated that other shapes and forms of indentations may be utilized. As should be appreciated, indentations <NUM> extending inward of sidewalls <NUM> facilitate grasping a cup <NUM> inserted therein to hold it firmly in the drink receptacle <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> also includes apertures <NUM> in bottom wall <NUM> to allow any spilt beverages to drain from drink receptacle <NUM>, as well as preventing a vacuum from being formed when drink receptacle <NUM> is inserted into a cup holder <NUM> in seats <NUM>.

Food receptacle <NUM> includes a pair of angled sidewalls <NUM>, which are higher at an end of the food receptacle <NUM> distal to drink receptacle <NUM> for reasons stated above and below. Food receptacle <NUM> also includes a front wall <NUM>, an end wall <NUM>, and a bottom wall <NUM>. Bottom wall <NUM> may include indented ribs or stiffeners <NUM> for purposes of providing additional support to food and drink holder <NUM>. Sidewalls <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM> also include indentations <NUM>, which in the embodiment shown; have a generally half wheel or half cylindrical configuration. It should be appreciated that indentations <NUM> may be placed more centrally located in sidewall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM> as shown in <FIG> or closer to end wall <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. This helps facilitate better stacking/later separation of the food and drink holders as discussed below. The orientation of indentations <NUM> can also be inverted, in particular, the direction in which the bottom of the L extends around sidewall <NUM> of drink receptacle <NUM> may alternate from tray to tray as the position of indentations <NUM> also alternate for stacking and separation purposes.

Similar to the previous embodiments, food and drink holder <NUM> includes a collar, flange or lip <NUM> extending around an upper or top circumference thereof to provide rigidity and stiffness to food and drink holder <NUM> in order that it will not collapse when holding food items in food receptacle <NUM> and supported in a cup holder <NUM> by drink receptacle <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes a connecting portion <NUM> connecting drink receptacle <NUM> and food receptacle <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, food and drink holder <NUM> also includes an indented stiffener <NUM> in front wall <NUM>. In this embodiment, stiffener <NUM> is angled so that it is wider at bottom <NUM> than at the top of wall <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes a brace <NUM> which includes a front wall <NUM>, a bottom flange <NUM> and side ledges <NUM>. Brace <NUM> extends for a longer length around drink receptacle <NUM> than brace <NUM> in addition, and front wall <NUM> is shown having a shorter height than front wall <NUM> in brace <NUM>. A space <NUM> is located between brace <NUM> and sidewall <NUM> of food receptacle <NUM> to facilitate mounting a top lip of cup holder <NUM> therein, so that drink and food holder <NUM> is held from securely thereon between sidewall <NUM> and front wall <NUM> of brace <NUM>.

Now referring to <FIG>, still another embodiment of a food and drink holder, generally indicated as <NUM>, is shown. Food and drink holder <NUM> includes a drink receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>, and a food receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> includes a generally cylindrical sidewall <NUM>, a bottom wall <NUM>, generally L-shaped indentations <NUM> and apertures <NUM> in bottom wall <NUM>. In food and drink holder <NUM>, indentations <NUM> are rotated <NUM>° about the circumference of sidewall <NUM> (as compared to indentations <NUM> in drink receptacle <NUM>), so that no indentation is directly central to a longitudinal axis of food and drink holder <NUM>. This allows the sidewall <NUM> to be closer along a longitudinal axis to cup holder <NUM>, in which food and drink holder <NUM> will be mounted, thereby more firmly holding food and drink holder <NUM> therein and preventing rocking thereof.

Food receptacle <NUM> of food and drink holder <NUM> includes a pair of sidewalls <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a rear or end wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM>. Stiffening ribs <NUM> may be included in bottom wall <NUM>. Indentations <NUM> are located in sidewalls <NUM>/bottom wall <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes a collar, flange or lip <NUM> extending around an upper circumference thereof and a connecting portion <NUM> connecting drink receptacle <NUM> to food receptacle <NUM>. Food receptacle <NUM> includes a stiffener <NUM> similar to stiffener <NUM> on food and drink holder <NUM> and located in front wall <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes a brace <NUM>.

Now referring to <FIG>, a food and drink holder in accordance with the invention, generally indicated as <NUM>, is disclosed. Food and drink holder <NUM> includes a drink receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>, and a food receptacle, generally indicated as <NUM>. Drink receptacle <NUM> includes sidewalls <NUM> and indentations <NUM>, similar to indentations <NUM> in the embodiment of food and drink holder <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes sidewalls <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a rear or end wall <NUM>, and a bottom wall <NUM>. Indentations <NUM> are located in sidewalls <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>. Food and drink holder <NUM> also includes a collar, lip, or flange, generally indicated as <NUM>; however, as compared to the other embodiments, flange <NUM> transitions around the connecting portion between drink receptacle <NUM> and food receptacle <NUM> such that it becomes upturned and flairs or extends further up on sidewall <NUM> and only a small lip <NUM> is formed about sidewall <NUM>. This transition and extended area on sidewall <NUM> facilitates drink receptacle <NUM> being received and seated further in and more secure in cup holder <NUM>.

In embodiments, the food and drink holder can be stackable, for increased efficiency in shipping. As discussed above, indentations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> have a generally L-shaped configuration in the embodiments shown, but on alternate stacked food and drink holders, the orientation of the bottom of the L on the sidewall of the drink receptacle may be varied. Likewise, in alternate stacked food and drink holders, indentations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be alternated from a middle of the sidewalls/bottom wall towards the end wall of the food receptacle. As should be appreciated, if alternate stacked trays have the placement/orientation of the indentations vary, this provides a slight offset so that the trays do not rest completely to the bottom of one another thereby creating a small space between the flanges on stacked trays. Accordingly, when it is time to utilize and/or remove the food and drink holders from one another at a concession stand, it will be easy for the server to remove the top food and drink holder from the stack by being able to readily grasp it beneath the flange and pull from the other food and drink holders in the stack.

Claim 1:
A food and drink holder (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be removably mounted to a cup holder attached to seats or an arm rest comprising:
a drink receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>), the drink receptacle including a generally cylindrical sidewall having a central axis, the sidewall configured to be removably mounted in an opening in the cup holder;
a food receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a pair of sidewalls, a front wall, an end wall, a bottom wall, and a top end, the top end of the food receptacle extending at an angle less than <NUM>° to the central axis of the sidewall of the drink receptacle; and
a flange (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending at least partially around an upper end of the food and drink holder, wherein the flange extends around the sidewalls and end wall of the food receptacle and transitions to flare up on at least a portion of the drink receptacle, and characterised in that
the flange forms a small lip (<NUM>) about a portion thereof coinciding with the sidewall of the drink receptacle.