# US 5,706,949 A · Party kit for serving guests (party in a box) > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,949 A - Document ID: US5706949A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/607,275 - Filed: 1996-02-21 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-02-21 - Inventors: Christine Amato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706949A ## CPC - A47G 11/004: {Fitted table-cloths (separate holding devices A47G21/167)} - A45F 3/46: Picnic sets (picnic boxes A45C11/20) - A47G 11/003: {Table-cloths} - A47G 21/14: Knife racks or stands; Holders for table utensils attachable to plates - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY ## Abstract A serving platform for holding and dispensing tableware and utensils at a party or other such function. A covering made from cloth or other suitable material is disposed over a container. The container is preferably a knock-down box. The covering has a plurality of pockets attached thereto for dispensing utensils such as knives, forks or spoons or for dispensing napkins or other tableware. The pockets are disposed along the sides of the container and may be divided into subpockets. The covering may be fitted around the bottom surface of the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A serving platform for dispensing tableware and utensils to a plurality of guests comprising: a container having a top flat face and at least one vertical side; and a cover having at least one pocket on a surface thereof for retaining the utensils, wherein the cover is adapted to be draped over the top flat face and the at least one side of the container, and wherein the at least one pocket is so disposed on the surface of the cover such that, when the cover is draped over the container, the at least one pocket is aligned with the at least one side of the container, and whereby the tableware can be displayed on the top face of the serving platform for serving a plurality of guests; wherein said container is a knock-down box. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, wherein said cover is formed from cloth material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The serving platform of claim 2 wherein said at least one pocket is sewn to said cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, further comprising an aperture passing through the surface of the cover and a corresponding aperture passing through the top face of the container for retaining plates in an upright position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, wherein said container includes a removable knock-down lid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, wherein said cover is fitted around a bottom surface of said container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, wherein said at least one pocket comprises four pockets, each of said pockets being disposed along the at least one side of said container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, further including tableware and utensils. ### Claim 9 A serving platform assembly for dispensing tableware and utensils to a plurality of guests comprising: a knock-down box having a top flat face and a plurality of vertical sides, the top face of the box being sized to display a plurality of tableware items; a cloth cover adapted to be draped over the top face and sides of said knock-down box, said cover having a plurality of pockets sewn to a surface thereof, wherein each of said pockets is disposed on the cover such that the pockets will be disposed along a side of said knock down box when said cover is draped over said box, and wherein at least one of said pockets is further subdivided into subpockets, each of said subpockets being sized to retain a plurality of utensils. ### Claim 10 (depends on 10) The serving platform of claim 10 further comprising tableware for display on the top flat face of the container, wherein said tableware comprises plates, bowls, and cups. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The serving platform assembly of claim 10 wherein said tableware is disposable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The serving platform of claim 10, further comprising utensils to be retained within the subpockets of the cover, wherein the utensils comprise knives, forks, and spoons. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The serving platform assembly of claim 9 wherein said plurality of pockets comprise four pockets, each of said four pockets being disposed along a side of said knock-down box. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The serving platform assembly of claim 9 wherein said cover is attached to a bottom surface of said box. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The serving platform of claim 9 further comprising an aperture for retaining plates in an upright position, said aperture extending through said cover and said box. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The serving platform of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a plurality of vertical sides. ### Claim 17 A serving platform for dispensing tableware and utensils to a plurality of guests, comprising: a container having a top surface and four vertical sides extending downwardly from the top surface, wherein the top surface is sized to display tableware for service to a plurality of guests; and a cover adapted to be draped over the container, wherein the cover has a plurality of pockets sewn onto its surface, and wherein the pockets are so disposed on the cover that, when the cover is draped over the container, the pockets are aligned with the vertical sides of the container and open upwardly toward the top surface of the container, and wherein at least one of said pockets is further subdivided into subpockets, each of which is adapted to retain a plurality of utensils; and wherein at least one of said pockets is adapted to retain napkins for service to a plurality of guests. ### Claim 18 (depends on 19) The serving platform of claim 19, wherein the container further comprises a knock-down box. ### Claim 19 (depends on 20) The serving platform of claim 20, wherein the box has a length of about twenty to twenty-six inches, a width of about twenty to twenty-five inches, and a height of about five to seven inches, for serving a plurality of guests.