A mold for creating an image on an article has an uneven surface having a depth that varies in accordance with brightness of an original image, and being covered with a light-transmitting colored material in a color different from a color of the article.

A wall of material around the rim of a dinner plate, bowl, or drinking glass. A light emitter and battery are removably or integrally attached to the wall. The light emitter may emit different colored lighting from different circumferential sections of the wall toward food or drink in the dinnerware. A removable version of the wall may be C-shaped, with a circumferential groove on an inner surface of the wall that receives the rim of the dinnerware. Mirrors on the wall may reflect the light inward toward food in the dinnerware, and may direct some of the light across the gap in a C-shaped wall. The wall may be translucent or transparent, with the emitter and battery attached to an outer surface of the wall.

A device for portioning food, and more specifically, a device that can be adjusted so that portions of food can be varied in accordance with an individual's dietary requirements, is disclosed. Such a food-portioning device includes an annular wall, a hub, and a plurality of dividing means extending from the hub to the annular wall so as to form a plurality of spaces between the dividing means, each space having an open top and an open bottom, wherein at least one of the dividing means is attached to the hub in a manner that allows it to at least partially rotate about the hub relative to an adjacent dividing means.

A plateware device with an active temperature control system can have a double-walled body with a top metal panel and a bottom metal panel spaced from the top metal panel to define a cavity therebetween. A base (of metal or plastic) can be attached to the bottom metal panel to close the cavity. An outer surface of the doubled-walled body can have a ceramic coating so the plateware device resembles a conventional plateware device. The temperature control system can be disposed in the cavity and can include one or more heat transfer elements in thermal communication with a bottom surface of the top panel to heat at least a portion of the top panel, and control circuitry configured to control operation of the one or more heat transfer elements. The control circuitry is optionally further configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile electronic device, the control circuitry configured to control the operation of the one or more heat transfer elements based at least in part on information it receives from the mobile electronic device.

There is provided a drinking or eating vessel comprising an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving liquid or solid food and an outer surface that supports a polymeric coating and a decorative layer, wherein the polymeric coating comprises a polymer formed by curing a coating mixture on the outer surface of the drinking or eating vessel, said coating mixture comprising a matting agent, wherein the polymeric coating has an inner surface in contact with the drinking or eating vessel and an outer surface in contact with the decorative layer, and wherein the decorative layer comprises a dry toner image applied to the outer surface of the polymeric coating. Also provided is a corresponding process for producing the drinking or eating vessel.

A dinner plate may include a base surface configured for holding food. Further, the dinner plate may include at least one side wall extending upwardly about a perimeter of the base surface configured to enclose the base surface from at least one side to prevent the food spilling out from the base surface. Further, the dinner plate may include at least one guideline subdividing the base surface into a plurality of sections. Further, in some embodiments, the plurality of sections may include at least one of a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section may include a fruit and vegetable section. The second section may include a protein section. The third section may include a starch section.

A food serving system includes a top serving portion and a bottom serving portion removably nested under the top serving portion. The bottom serving portion includes a closeable compartment with a door operatively connected to the closeable compartment to optionally occlude and unocclude an opening of the closeable compartment. A food serving system includes a serving tray including a top serving portion and a bottom serving portion. The bottom serving portion includes a closeable compartment with a door operatively connected to the closeable compartment to optionally occlude and unocclude an opening of the closeable compartment. The top serving portion is formed within the door of the bottom serving portion.

An internet of things interactive learning device, system and method for a child comprises a talking table set including a display screen, a speaker, interactive handle buttons, a multimedia processor with memory and drivers for all components thereof in communication therewith. The multimedia processor is configured to record and play back a parent's message and a child's voice as speech and song on-demand and to display on the screen a parent's video and a recording of the child's eating habits. The disclosure also includes eating and drinking utensils comprising interactive handle buttons and circuitry configured to talk wirelessly to the talking table set per real time input from the child and the parent. An internet subscription service module provides multimedia content including licensed songs, stories and music to the talking table set. A real-time language translator broadcasts the message and voice into as many as 30 spoken languages.

A propeller food plate assembly has a plate component and a propeller component that includes a plurality of propellers that subdivide the plate into a plurality of compartments for holding food during a dining activity. During a different recreational activity, the components rotate when the assembly is thrown and spun in the air. During flight, the components initially engage each other in a torque-transmitting relationship, and subsequently move apart. The propellers have contoured, aerodynamic surfaces configured to enhance an aerodynamic flight characteristic of the assembly. One or more light sources may be mounted on the assembly to emit light.

A multi-chamber container with an educational function. The multi-chamber container is designed to provide a housing, with a sidewall extending between a bottom wall and a top wall, that can store food or beverage substances therein. The housing includes a primary chamber and at least one secondary chamber. The primary chamber is accessible via a primary opening, while each secondary chamber is individually accessible via a secondary opening. The container provides an educational function in that the primary chamber stores a desired liquid or solid material and the secondary chamber is empty. The primary and secondary openings are Indistinguishable to the consumer until opened from a closed state. The selection of the primary opening corresponds to a correct answer to a question displayed on, or associated with, the container.