US20140175103A1

US20140175103A1 - Wearable bowl for cup

Info

Publication number: US20140175103A1
Application number: US14/133,356
Authority: US
Inventors: Sungsik Oh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-18
Filing date: 2013-12-18
Publication date: 2014-06-26

Abstract

A bowl is configured to be put on a top of a cup. The bowl comprises a inward concave body used for food. The body also has a cylindrical outward concave. The outward concave is formed integrally at the center of the body. The outward concave has also a concave base and an inner wall. The outward concave is configured to receive the upper portion of the cup. The outward concave is placed on the top of the cup, so that the concave base and the inner wall surround and securely grab the upper portion of the cup.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims domestic priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/738,682, filed on Dec. 18, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

BACKGROUNDS

This invention pertains to eating utensils, and more particularly to plates and cups. There are various occasions when people have to carry food with them for examples, watching sports, touring in the streets etc.
However, when they purchase for food at takeout restaurants, they are given food and beverage in separate containers. The purchasers, therefore, have to use both their hands to carry the food items. If they have to move continuously or they are in a place with no tables and chairs, this can put them in an uncomfortable situation since they won't be able to use neither of their hands to eat.
There are various inventions today that enable the cup to be carried on parts of the plate of diverse forms. However, people who use these items have to hold on to the thin plate which reduces the stability of the standing cup.
This invention, however, enables the customer to carry their food by holding on to the cup in the center with the food containing bowl on top, which enhances the stability for both the cup and the bowl. The consumers would be able to carry their food items more easily, and also free one of their hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 0 shows a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a full-size bowl.

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of a full-size plate.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of a full-size plate.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view of a full-size plate.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the invention upon being placed on a cup.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows an another exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows an another exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This bowl 100 allows users to be able to carry both food and beverage with only one hand. It provides more comfort for users in comparison to the conventional cups only of takeout restaurants.
The shape and the size of the bowl 100 can be changed easily, depending on the size and the shape of the cup 200. Only the cap-shaped center portion of the bowl 100 that holds the bowl 100 onto the cup 200 will have to be changed. The height of this center section can also be easily altered depending on the cup's shape and size.
As long as the bowl's center section that holds the cup 200 is stable, the bowl 100 can be produced in many diverse forms such as circular, square, and even triangular. The bowl 100 can be made with various substances, including both metal or non-metal. Paper, plastic, fiber or pulp can be used to make it so the bowl 100 can blend with the conventional cups of common restaurants.
Dividers 110 in the bowl 100 are optional, but if inserted, it enables consumers to carry more diverse types of food items, including various sauces. The dividers prevent the mixing of different food items, and also strengthen the bowl's overall structure.
The element 100: whole plate or bowl. The bowl 100 is added on to the conventional cup 200 used widely by common restaurants, and become useful in situations requiring continuous movement or restricted area such as in tourism, picnic or sports complex.
The element 110: the divider is a structure used to divide the bowl 100 into sections. It may not be used if the size of the bowl 100 is small, but when used, it can prevent the mixing of the food, and can also block the outer wall of the bowl 100 from tearing up when carrying wet or heavy food items. It will be very helpful for carrying both wet and dry food items, as well as dividing the foods into groups.
The element 120: the bowl base is where the food is stored.
The element 130: the hole 130 is for the straw 300. The hole 130 allows the straw to penetrate and go through the bowl 100, cup's cap 210 and the cup 200. The hole 130 helps unite the cup 200 and the bowl 100 better and nails the bowl 100 onto the cup 200.
The element 140: the bowl 100's center-base, inner wall 140 (cap shape). It is the section of the bowl 100 that surrounds the upper portion of the conventional cup 200 like a hat. It prevents the bowl 100 from slipping or falling off the cup 200.
With the base 120 of the bowl 100 that touches the cup 200. If this wall 140 is enlarged, it allows the cup 200 to be able to carry a bigger bowl. When the wall 140 and the concave base 150 of the bowl 100 fits with the conventional cup 200, the bowl's shape can be altered in any shape, and the depth of the bowl 100 may change as well if wanted or needed.
The element 150: the bowl's concave base. With the wall 140 center base, the inner wall 140 enables the bowl 100 to be put on top of the cup 200. When the bowl 100 is inserted on top of the cup 200, it surrounds and grabs the cup 200 with the inner walls 140 like a cap. It, therefore, supports the whole bowl 100, and allows the user to be able to hold both the cup 200 and the bowl 100 in one hand.
The elements 200 & 210: they are the conventional cup 200 and its cover 210. The element 300: the conventional straw.
FIG. 0 shows a perspective view when the cup 200 and the bowl 100 are in its combined form. It is the drawing actually showing how the invention looks like when in use. The bowl 100 is placed on top of the conventional cup 200 like a hat, and allows the user to control eating and drinking at the same time.
It would benefit users like tourists when eating during travel or watching sports, movies, etc. The bowl 100 can be completely separated from the conventional cup 200 with ease, and when done so, can be used as a normal plate or bowl. It could allow two types of sales: food can be stored in the bowl 100 before order and then sold to customers with the cup 200 for attachment, or one can simply put in food into the bowl 100 and then situate it on top of the cup 200.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the bowl 100. FIG. 1 also shows the bowl 100's shape and composition in three dimensions. The bowl 100 can be made into several different shapes and formations. The large cylinder-shaped concave is put on top of the conventional cup 200 and holds firmly on the upper portion of the cup 200.
The cylindrical wall of the concave functions to balance the bowl 100 on top of the cup 200, and prevents it from tilting or falling from the cup 200. This design enables the user to carry both bowl 100 and cup 200 with only one hand. Even if the bowl 100 is shallow in depth, it can still balance perfectly as long as the cylindrical concave in the middle is deep.
FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of a full-size bowl 100. The shape and the size of the bowl 100 can be designed in various ways according to the types of foods it will store. The drawing reflects the most basic design of circular shape.
The depth of the bowl 100 and its concave in the middle can certainly be produced in various ways as well. When in use on top of the table, the bowl 100 can be used separately from the cup 200 like conventional bowl 100 and cup 200, or be used together as one.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the lower portion of the bowl 100. This drawing also shows the hat like, cylindrical concave in the middle of the bowl 100. This portion of the bowl 100 enables the bowl 100 to balance itself on the cup 200.
The cylindrical concave can be altered to have different angles to allow the bowls 100 to fold upon each other. This will ease the transportation, packaging and storage.
FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view of the bowl 100. In the middle portion of the bowl 100 sits the hat like concave. This section of the bowl 100 is put on top of the cup 200 and allows the user to have one hand free. Again, slight alteration of the concave's wall would enable the bowls 100 to fold upon each other and ease storage and transportation.
FIG. 5 shows a side view when the bowl 100 is attached to the cup 200. This is the drawing of the conventional cup 200, its cover and the bowl 100 as united as one. Because the bowl 100 is not just put on top of the cup 200 but covers and surrounds the whole upper proportion of the cup 200, the stability between the cup 200 and the bowl 100 is excellent.
This product is designed so that it would not tilt or unbalance itself even when carried with only one hand. The bowl 100's size and depth can be redesigned according to its usage. In addition, with the cover for the bowl itself, one can store food before sale in the bowl, and sell it right away when an order comes in.
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view when the bowl 100 is attached to the cup 200 The function of the cylindrical concave's inner wall 140 is shown in FIG. 6. By slightly altering the size and shape of this concave, the bowl's shape and size also can be changed.
FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the bowl 100, the cup's cover 210, and the cup 200. This drawing also describes the way the bowl 100, the cup's cover 210 and the cup 100 is connected in an analytical perspective. A straw 300, which will go through the bowl 100 and the cup 200 will even more firmly connect the bowl 100 to the conventional cup 200.
FIG. 8 shows another exploded view of the bowl 100, the cup's cover 210, and the cup 200. This drawings also shows the connected state of the bowl 100, the cup 200 cover and the cup in three dimensions.
FIGS. 9-10 show when the bowl 100, the straw 300, the cup 200 and the cup's cover 210 are assembled. One major characteristic of this product is the food items that would be put into the bowl 100 could be completely separate from that in the cup 200.
The beverage, whether it is water, juice or soda, would be added to the cup 200 and the cup 200 could be used separately from the bowl 100. The bowl 100 does not function as the cover for the cup. Therefore, this product allows the cup 200 and the bowl 100 to be freely separated or united according to the user's need.
This function would greatly benefit tourists and audiences who are watching movies or sports competitions. From sports arena, tourist attraction, streets to restaurant tables, this product can be used easily according to the user's want and need.

Claims

1. A bowl configured to be put on a top of a cup, comprising:

a inward concave body used for food, the body having a cylindrical outward concave formed integrally at the center of the body, the outward concave having a concave base and an inner wall, the outward concave configured to receive the top portion of the cup, the outward concave being placed on the top of the cup, so that the concave base and the inner wall surround and securely grab the upper portion of the cup.

2. According to claim 1, the bowl further comprises a hole formed at the center of the outward so that a straw is placed through the hole all the way to the cup.

3. According to claim 1, the inward concave body is like a round, triangular, rectangular or poly-diagonal shape.