IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,262,039
Granted Patent B2
US 8,262,039 · App. 12/574,467 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Tableware and table cover fastening systems and methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,262,039
App. No.
12/574,467
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Paper or plastic cups, plates, and paper utensils are held in place on a table attaching a table cloth to a table, and then attaching by tableware holders to the table cloth. The table cloth and the tableware holders have mating fasteners that prevent the tableware holders from moving relative to the table cloth. Each tableware holder is sized and dimensioned to receive different types of tableware and each holder has stabilizers that prevent the tableware from blowing off of the table.

Claims (25)

1. A system for holding a piece of tableware in place on a surface, comprising:

a tableware holder having a stabilizer sized and disposed to receive the piece of tableware and having a first fastener;

a table cover sized and disposed to cover an entire upper surface of a table, wherein the table cover has a second fastener that mates with the first fastener and has a third fastener that couples the table cover to the table; and

wherein the stabilizer comprises a tab that restricts a movement of the piece of tableware in a direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer composes a wall that surrounds the piece of tableware.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the wall is circular.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second tableware holder sized and disposed to receive a second piece of tableware and having a fourth fastener, wherein the table cover has a fifth fastener that mates with the fourth fastener.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tableware holder comprises a material with a specific heat of at least 2 Joules per gram.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tableware holder comprises an insulating material.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the table cover comprises a cloth material.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third fastener comprises a clamp that compresses the table cover against the table.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener comprises hooks and the second fastener comprises loops.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sales kit that holds the tableware holder and the table cover.

11. A method of securing a container to a table, comprising steps of:

providing a tableware holder with a first fastener;

providing a table cover with a second fastener that mates with the first fastener;

covering an entire upper surface of the table with the table cover;

coupling the table cover to the table;

mating the first fastener with the second fastener; and

disposing the container within the tableware holder by disposing a portion of the container behind a tab.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing the tableware holder and the table cover in a single kit.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a fastener to couple the table cover to the table.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein coupling the table cover to the table comprises tying the table cover to at least two legs of the table.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of coupling the first fastener with the second fastener comprises pressing the first fastener against the second fastener.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising lowering a temperature of a portion of the tableware holder.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61140416 · Dec 23, 2008
Related Publication 20100154683A1 · Jun 24, 2010