DEVICE FOR CARRYING A CONTAINER

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U. S . provisional patent application serial no . 60/646 , 556 , filed on January 25 , 2005 , and U. S . provisional patent application serial no . 60/663 , 441, filed on March 18 , 2005 , the contents of each of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by. reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for carrying containers . In particular, the present invention relates to a device for carrying containers of food items and the like for heating in a microwave oven.

Food containers of all sorts are used for heating food items and the like in a microwave oven. However, when heated, these containers are hot to the touch and can cause burns to a person' s fingers when held . In particular, ceramic containers can be extremely hot to the touch. Additionally, there is no warning that a container is hot since the air inside the microwave oven is not particularly hot to warn a person that a container inside may be hot to the touch . Persons have used cloth hot pads to prevent hands from burning, but these pads can be difficult to use . Thus , there is a need for a device

to carry food containers that have been heated in a microwave that is not hot to the touch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device and method are provided for supporting a food container and the like . The device includes a base member, a central container, receiving portion and a plurality of support legs . The plurality of support legs are positioned on a side of the base member opposite the central container receiving portion. In one embodiment, the device is formed of a unitary body made of a microwave transparent material .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container carrying device from a first side .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container carrying device of FIG. 1 from a second side . FIG . 3 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG. 1 supporting a plate .

FIG. 4 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG . 1 supporting a bowl .

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG . 1 supporting a cup . FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative container carrying device .

FIG. 7. is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG. 6 supporting a bowl .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS . 1 and 2 illustrate a device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Device 10 is made of a unitary body including a base member 12. One embodiment of device 10 is sold under the trade name Microwave Caddy™. FIG. 1 illustrates a first side 14 of base member 12 that includes a plurality of support legs 16. First side 14 also includes a first raised step portion 20 and a second raised step portion 22. Base member 12 includes apertures 24 that allow device 10 to be hung when not in use or grasped by a person when carrying . The plurality of legs 16 includes three spaced apart legs positioned in a circular configuration. The legs 16 are of sufficient height to allow finger clearance such that a person' s fingers can be inserted underneath base member 12 to easily grasp device 10. Additionally, legs 16 are spaced apart from an edge of the base member 12 such that a person can easily grab device 10. Many microwave ovens often include turntables , and thus spacing legs 16 from an edge of base member 12 allow device 10 to be easily grasped by a person regardless of orientation of device 10.

FIG . 2 illustrates a second side 30 of base member 12 , opposite of first side 14. Second side 30 includes a plurality of support legs 32. Second side 30 also includes a first recessed step portion 34 and a r- second recessed step portion 36. The plurality of legs 32 includes three spaced apart legs positioned in a

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circular configuration. Legs 32 , similar to legs 16 , also are of sufficient height to provide finger clearance and spaced apart from an edge of base member 12 such that device 10 can easily be grasped and held by a person .

First side 14 and second side 30 include central container receiving portions that are configured such that device 10 can carry different types of food containers and the like . Such containers include, but are not limited to, cups , bowls and plates . The container receiving portions include at least one surface that is at an angle with respect to the base member 12. In order to accommodate containers of different sizes , first side 14 and second side 30 include structures to engage and receive various types of containers . In an exemplary embodiment , the circular configuration formed by the plurality of legs 32 has a smaller diameter than the circular configuration formed by the plurality of legs 16. When first side 14 is used to receive different size containers , legs 32 support device 10. Alternatively, when second side 30 is used to receive different size containers, legs 16 support device 10.

FlG. 3 illustrates device 10 supporting a plate 40. On first side 14 , first raised step portion 20 can be sized to engage an underside of plate 40 , for example a plate having a 12" diameter . The circular configuration formed by legs 16 also serve to engage the plate 40 to prevent the plate 40 from slipping.

Legs 16 can be of a predetermined height to easily accommodate plates or other types of containers as desired. Second raised step portion 22 can be sized to engage an underside of a small plate, for example a plate having a 9" diameter . In situations where first side 14 engages a container, legs 32 are placed on a surface to provide support for device 10 and the container.

FIG . 4 illustrates device 10 supporting a bowl 42. First recessed portion 34 on second side 30 can be sized to engage bowl 42. The circular configuration formed by legs 32 can engage a bowl to prevent the bowl from slipping. FIG. 5 illustrates device 10 supporting a cup 44. Second recessed portion 36 can be sized to engage cup 44 or alternatively a small bowl . Legs 32 can also be of a predetermined height to easily accommodate bowls and serve as a container receiving portion. When second side 30 is used to engage a container, legs 16 serve to support device 10 and the container.

Device 10 is made of a material that is microwave transparent , such as polypropylene . Other examples include polycarbonate, polysulfone and styrene copolymers such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) . The microwave transparent material is substantially unaffected by microwaves and thus does not heat to a significant temperature in a microwave . As a result , device 10 is not hot to the touch after being heated in the microwave . A person can place a

food container on device 10 , heat the food for a desired time and remove device 10 without the need for a hot pad to prevent fingers from being burned .

FIGS . 6 and 7 illustrate a further embodiment of a carrying device according to the present invention. Device 50 includes . a base member 52 , a central aperture 54 and a plurality of support legs 56. Device 50 is made of a microwave transparent material as discussed above . Central aperture 54 forms a container receiving portion with a surface angled with respect to base member 52. In FIG. 7 , a bowl 58 is inserted into aperture 54 and thus device 50 can support bowl 58 for heating in a microwave .

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments , workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.