Support for utensils and napkin holder

Abstract

A support for utensils and napkins. This support has three sections with each able to hold at least one utensil without touching the eating surface. The individual sections are connected to each other along the long sides. There are two support walls attached at the outer ends. All three sections are raised from the surface resulting in no contact with dirty or wet surfaces. The side walls are angled slightly outward for easy gripping and to better support the stacking of devices. The napkin section is below the utensil sections. The device will have two basic product sizes, one for an individual user with single sized utensil holder and one to hold utensils for many people. The device can be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, or Styrofoam. When the device is made from glass or plastic, it can be made re-usable and dishwasher safe.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of support utensils and napkins and, more particularly, keeping the utensils from coming in contact with surfaces that are not clean. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] There is much emphasis on maintaining a clean and healthy eating environment. Unfortunately, people often put their eating utensils down on tables assuming the surface is clean and free of bacteria. Some people eat in nontraditional places, without tables, including cars, buses, and trains. They might eat at a picnic or eat in bed. In these environments there are usually no flat places to put anything down. If the utensils are put in a uneven plate they will slide off, or placed in an unleveled cup they will tip over. Many times these untraditional places cause drinks to spill, food to fall, and utensils to get dirty. A good intentioned relaxing meal can becomes massy and unhygenic, even one you soon try to forget. [0003] The traditional dining ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a support for utensils and napkins. This support has three sections with each able to hold at least one utensil without touching the eating surface. The individual sections are connected to each other along the long sides. There are two support walls attached at the outer ends. All three sections are raised from the surface resulting in no contact with dirty or wet surfaces. The side walls are angled slightly outward for easy gripping and to better support the stacking of devices. The napkin section is below the utensil sections, it consists of a flat panel connected to the outer sides. The device will have two basic product sizes, one for an individual user with single sized utensil holders and one to hold utensils for many people. The device can be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, or Styrofoam. When the device is made from glass or plastic, it can be made re-usable and dishwasher safe.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, people often put their eating utensils down on tables assuming the surface is clean and free of bacteria.

Many times these untraditional places cause drinks to spill, food to fall, and utensils to get dirty.

A good intentioned relaxing meal can becomes massy and unhygenic, even one you soon try to forget.

In these environments there exist several potentially unsanitary factors that make it unwise to place utensils directly on a table.

Eating with utensils that are contaminated with germs can spread sickness.

The person that cleans these tables could unknowingly be carrying germs, or the rag used to wipe the table might be unclean and leave germs or residue on the table.

The table may not even be cleaned from the prior usage.

The issue of an unclean table poses a predicament to all those concerned with sanitary conditions.

There are solutions available for keeping the utensils clean by using items on the table, but none are really satisfactory.

Unfortunately, the napkin merely absorbs any remaining bacteria or liquid, bringing the utensils in contact with unwanted germs.

However, most eating establishments do not have the extra space on the table or the available extra plates.

Additionally, most people would resist using an extra plate due to inappropriate etiquette.

Currently a majority of fast food restaurants are not providing plates; rather the customer is supplied with a plastic container barely large enough to hold the food itself.

This method is awkward and the cup can easily topple, especially if the cup is lightweight and the utensils are not balanced.

Additionally, this would require extra cups for every person, significantly reducing the available table space.

When this is done, the holding end of the utensil comes in contact with the unclean surface, which is still an unsanitary condition.

Placing the entire utensil across the plate creates different issues: insufficient room on the plate for food and utensils, food covering the utensil and making it dirty, and, when in a restaurant, the possibility of mistakenly signaling the waiter to remove the plate entirely.

This would be inadequate for all types of meals.

The prior patent solutions only elevates the eating ends of the utensils.

The prior patent solutions have no provisions for keeping a napkin off the eating surface.

The prior patent solutions offer limited protection from a wet surface.

The prior patent solutions do not have a configuration or variation of their invention that can be made re-usable or even dishwasher safe.

If the surface was uneven or slightly tilted the prior solutions would be ineffective in holding utensils.

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