Securable Plate for a Child

Abstract

A securable plate for infants having a sidewall projecting a length of a perimeter edge engages removably with a support surface using a suction cup. An opening in the sidewall provides a passage to lift the edge of the suction cup to disengage the suctioned engagement of the suction cup by lifting the edge of the suction cup or a release flap extending from it.

Claims

1. A securable plate, comprising: a body, said body having a top surface configured to hold food and having a bottom surface opposite said top surface; a sidewall projecting a length around a perimeter edge of said body to a distal end of said sidewall; an opening formed in said sidewall; a suction cup in an engagement with said bottom surface of said body, said suction cup extending a distance away from said bottom surface to a circumferential edge; said distal end of said sidewall configured to support said body of said securable plate upon a support surface in an operative position; said suction cup configured for a removable suctioned engagement to said support surface with said securable plate in said operative position; and said suction cup accessible through said opening whereby a lifting of said circumferential edge of said suction cup disengages said removable suctioned engagement to said support surface.

2. The securable plate of claim 1 additionally comprising: a release flap extending from said circumferential edge of said suction cup along an axis of said release flap running toward said opening in said sidewall; said release flap extending a length to a distal end thereof; and said release flap actuable for said lifting of circumferential edge of said suction cup by a pulling or lifting of said distal end of said release flap.

3. The securable plate of claim 2 additionally comprising: a gap between said distal end of said release flap and said opening underneath said bottom surface of said body; and said gap defining a visual barrier to viewing said release flap through said opening.

4. The securable plate of claim 2 additionally comprising: said release flap having a planar top surface and a planar lower surface; a curved portion of said release flap at said distal end of said release flap; and a cavity positioned between said lower surface of said release flap adjacent said curved portion of said release flap and said support surface with said suction cup in said removable suctioned engagement.

5. The securable plate of claim 3 additionally comprising: said release flap having a planar top surface and a planar lower surface; a curved portion of said release flap at said distal end of said release flap; and a cavity positioned between said lower surface of said release flap adjacent said curved portion of said release flap and said support surface with said suction cup in said removable suctioned engagement.

6. The securable plate of claim 1 additionally comprising: said engagement of said suction cup with said bottom surface of said body being a rotational engagement between a member connected to said bottom surface of said body and a passage communicating through a projection on said suction cup.

7. The securable plate of claim 2 additionally comprising: said engagement of said suction cup with said bottom surface of said body being a rotational engagement between a member connected to said bottom surface of said body and a passage communicating through a projection on said suction cup.

8. The securable plate of claim 3 additionally comprising: said engagement of said suction cup with said bottom surface of said body being a rotational engagement between a member connected to said bottom surface of said body and a passage communicating through a projection on said suction cup.

9. The securable plate of claim 4 additionally comprising: said engagement of said suction cup with said bottom surface of said body being a rotational engagement between a member connected to said bottom surface of said body and a passage communicating through a projection on said suction cup.

10. The securable plate of claim 5 additionally comprising: said engagement of said suction cup with said bottom surface of said body being a rotational engagement between a member connected to said bottom surface of said body and a passage communicating through a projection on said suction cup.

11. The securable plate of claim 8 wherein said member runs along an axis aligned with or running parallel to said axis of said release flap.

12. The securable plate of claim 9 wherein said member runs along an axis aligned with or running parallel to said axis of said release flap.

13. The securable plate of claim 10 wherein said member runs along an axis aligned with or running parallel to said axis of said release flap.

14. The securable plate of claim 6 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

15. The securable plate of claim 7 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

16. The securable plate of claim 8 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

17. The securable plate of claim 9 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

18. The securable plate of claim 11 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

19. The securable plate of claim 12 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

20. The securable plate of claim 13 additionally comprising: said member positioned adjacent a cavity formed on said bottom surface of said body; and said projection on said suction cup having an exterior surface thereon, said exterior surface of said projection located within and mirroring a shape of a cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the removably securable plate device herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.

[0013] In the drawings:

[0014] FIG. 1 depicts an overhead perspective view of the securable plate device herein showing the removable lid engaged to cover an underlying cavity on a top surface and also showing an enlarged view of an overhang on the plate which engages a ledge on the lid.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a first side view of the plate device showing an opening in a sidewall providing finger access to a passage on a bottom side of the plate where a suction cup is engaged at a first end to the bottom of the plate and has a second end adapted for suction engagement with a support surface.

[0016] FIG. 3 is an overhead perspective view of the top of the plate device showing the removably engageable lid removed exposing the underlying cavity for food which may be segmented.

[0017] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view from the first side of the plate device showing the first end of the suction cup in a rotational engagement with a post and angled sides contacting angled sides of the passage in which the post is positioned.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the rotational engagement of a passage running through the first end of the suction cup with the post extending axially in the cavity which is substantially aligned with the opening in the sidewall of the plate.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a view of the lower side of the plate with the suction cup removed from a rotational mount on the post projecting within the cavity formed into the bottom surface which is aligned with an opening in the sidewall of the plate.

[0020] FIG. 7 depicts a view of the lower or bottom surface of the plate showing the suction cup in the engagement therewith and a flexible tab extending from the perimeter of the second end of the suction cup having an end spaced from the opening in the sidewall.

[0021] FIG. 8 depicts the plate device of FIGS. 1-7 in removable engagement with an underlying surface and held by suction from the suction cup and showing the release flap positioned substantially aligned with the opening but spaced from the sidewall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Referring now to the drawings of FIGS. 1-8 which depict modes of the device 10 herein, there is shown in FIG. 1, an overhead perspective view of the body 11 of the securable plate device 10 herein with a lid 12 in a plurality of removable connections 14 of the lid 12, with the top surface 16 of the body 11.

[0023] A favored mode of the removable connections 14 is shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 1, where a ledge 18 of the lid 12 is positioned in contact with and resting upon a ledge recess 22 formed into the top surface 16 of the body 11. This ledge recess 22 surrounds the ledge 18 projecting from the lid 12 and has a shape complimentary to the shape of the perimeter of the lid 12 which is defined by the ledge 18 projecting therefrom.

[0024] The lid 12 is formed of flexible material such that the ledge 18 is positionable under a plurality of projections 20 extending over and spaced from the ledge recess 22. As shown, two projections 20 are positioned at adjacent removable connections 14 on a side of the lid 12, opposite at least one removable connection 14 formed between a ledge 18 and a projection 20 on the opposite side of the lid 12.

[0025] Disengagement of the removable connections 14 is easy for an adult and almost impossible for a small child. Such removal is accomplished by gripping the handle 24 on the top of the lid 12, and urging the lid 12 in a direction toward the removable connections 14 on one side of the body 11 of the plate device 10. This causes a bending or flexing of the flexible polymeric or plastic material forming the lid 12 which deflects the ledge 18 on the side of the lid 12 opposite the direction of force, out from under the projection 20. Once so deflected, the lid 12 may be pulled by the handle 24 in a direction away from and above the top surface 16 of the body 11 of the plate device 10, whereupon a food cavity 26 (FIG. 3) is exposed which is adapted for holding food therein.

[0026] This disengageable lid 12, as noted, is easy to disengage for an adult with the strength to impart force to flex the lid 12 out of engagement with one or more projections 20. However, a small child has neither the strength nor the dexterity to accomplish the task. Thus, the device 10 may be positioned in front of a child with the lid 12 removably engaged, and left so until the parent or caretaker is positioned to watch and supervise the child during eating.

[0027] Shown in FIG. 2 and also in FIG. 1, is a sidewall 28 which projects away from the top surface 16 to a distal end 29 of the sidewall 28, and defines a perimeter edge of the body 11 of the plate device 10. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-2, an opening 30 is formed into the sidewall 28 and provides limited access to a release flap 32 extending to a distal end 36 from a first end engaged with the circumferential edge 33 of a suction cup 34. This release flap 32 as best seen in FIG. 7, extends a length along an axis 37 which is substantially aligned with a central area of the opening 30 in the sidewall 28, to a distal end 36. A pulling or a lifting of the release flap 32 provides a means to disengage the suctioned engagement of the suction cup 34 by releasing the seal at the circumferential edge 33 thereof.

[0028] This length of extension along the axis 37 from the circumferential edge 33 of the suction cup 34 to the distal end 36 is for a distance which creates a space or gap 39 from the distal end 36 of the release flap 32 and the plane of the sidewall 28 at the opening 30 in the sidewall 28 where the sidewall rests on the support surface 40. This gap 39 forms a visual barrier rendering the release flap 32 hidden from view of a child with their head located above the top surface 16 of the body 11 of the plate device 10. Currently, a gap 39 between inch to inch has been found in experimentation to work well to form a barrier to sight of the release flap 32 when viewed from over the top surface 16 of the body 11, which still allows for a user to project their fingers through the opening 30 to disengage a suctioned engagement of the suction cup 34 with the underlying surface 40.

[0029] The release flap 32 is shown formed to a flexible planar configuration where it parallels the support surface 40 on which it rests with the suction cup 34 in suctioned engagement. Originally a release flap 32 was formed which a ridge projecting from a top surface thereof, in a direction normal to the support surface 40 as an aid to disengagement of the suction cup 34. However, it was found in experimentation that a vertically disposed ridge (not shown) on the release flap 32, was much easier to disengage for children who were older such as 3-4 years old. When the release flap 32 was changed to a planar horizontal shape and smooth top surface as configured herein, the release flap 32 was found to be much harder for a child to contact, grip, and pull with sufficient force to disengage the suction cup 34. As such, the depicted planar configuration of the release flap 32 with a smooth planar top surface 41 (FIG. 8), was found to better serve a wider range of ages of children in keeping them from disengaging the plate device 11.

[0030] Further, the opening 30 is sized for the thumb and forefinger of an adult to project through and then position that thumb and forefinger under the bottom 38 of the body 11 which is held elevated above by the support surface 40 by support on the projecting sidewall 28. With this sidewall 28 in contact with the support surface 40 (FIG. 8) and the axis 37 of the projecting release flap 32 aligned substantially normal to a central area of the opening 30, the release flap 32 can be gripped and pulled by an adult to release the suction cup 34.

[0031] Additionally preferred is the forming the distal end 36 of the release flap 32 with memory material such the distal end 36 forms to a curve rising above the support surface 40 to form a cavity 45 (FIG. 8) between the release flap 32 adjacent the distal end 36 thereof, and underlying support surface 40. Such a cavity 45 was found to provide a tactile contact for adult users who could not see the flap when projecting fingers through the opening 30, to ascertain its presence and easily grip the release flap 32. Conversely, in experimentation and testing of the device 10, it was found that a small child or infant was incapable of ascertaining the hidden presence of the release flap 32 and lacked the dexterity and grip strength between a finger and thumb, which is required in order to first grasp the release flap 32 and then pull it upward and outward.

[0032] The suction cup 34 seen in FIGS. 2 and 4-8, is formed of rubber or plastic or similar elastic material which will cause the suction cup 34 to impart suction to the underlying support surface when it is depressed from the disengaged configuration shown in FIG. 2, to the collapsed and engaged configuration of FIG. 8. The suction cup 34 in the disengaged configuration is sized such that the circumferential edge 33 thereof, extends or projects a longer distance from the bottom 38 of the body 11 than the length of the sidewall 28 to the distal edge 29. With the circumferential edge 33 projecting further from the bottom 38 of the body 11 than the sidewall 28, positioning to the collapsed configuration is accomplished by imparting force to the lid 12 when engaged, or to the top surface 16 of the body 11 of the plate device 10 with the suction cup 34 extending from the bottom of the body 11, while concurrently positioned adjacent the support surface 40.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 12 is disengageable from the plurality of removable connections formed between the ledge 18 and the plurality of projections 20 adjacent and spaced from the ledge recess 22 formed into the top surface 16 of the body 11 of the plate device 10. This removal process was described above, and re engagement of the lid 12 to the removable connections 14 (FIG. 1) is accomplished in the reverse action where the ledge 18 of the lid 12 is engaged in a gap between the ledge recess 22 and one or more of the projections 20, and then forced toward that engagement by imparting force to the handle 24. This will flex the flexible lid 12 in the same fashion as removal except that the user will engage the opposing side of the lid 12 with the opposing positioned projection or projections 20.

[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 4 and the enlargement of FIG. 5, where the suction cup 34 is viewable through the opening 30 in the sidewall 28, a pliable projection 42 extends away from a connection with the first end 35 of the suction cup 34 to an engagement with the bottom 38 of the body 11 of the plate device 10. Originally, a fixed engagement was tried of the pliable projection 42 to the body 11. However, it was found in experimentation that force exerted against or to the sidewall 28 by a child had sufficient mechanical advantage to sometimes cause a dismount of the suction cup 24 from the support surface 40.

[0035] A number of connections for the suction cup 34 to the bottom 38 of the body 11 were tried and unexpectedly, a rotational connection of the mounting projection 42 extending from the suction cup 34 to the body 11, prevented such disengagement because the combination of flexing by the elastic flexible projection 42 along with a rotation thereof in the engagement to the bottom 38, prevented sufficient force from being imparted to disengage the suction cup 34.

[0036] As can be seen in FIGS. 4-6, the rotational engagement of the suction cup 34 to the bottom 38 of the body 11 of the plate device 10 is formed by an elongated member 44 extending in a horizontal disposition, which is spaced from said bottom surface 38 of said body 11 such as shown in a cavity 46 formed on the bottom surface 38 of the body 11. The elongated member 44 preferably runs along an axis which is either aligned with or runs substantially parallel to the axis 37 of the release flap 32 as shown in FIG. 8. This has found to work better by allowing the suction cup 34 to rock or rotate on the elongated member 44 along the axis 37 and not easily dismount which concurrently aligning the release flap 32 with the opening 30 should the user dismount and be re engaging the suction cup 34.

[0037] An axial passage 48 communicating through the projection 42 is sized to engage upon and rotate upon the member 44. A cap 50 is shown positioned on the distal end of the member 44 and has a diameter larger than a diameter of the member 44 and the axial passage 48. Thus, the elastic material forming the projection 42 allows the axial passage 48 to stretch under force and slide over the cap 50 to a rotational engagement with the member 44, and holds the projection 42 in place. This also fixes the suction cup 34 in place, and holds the distal end 36 of the release flap 32, spaced away from the opening 30 in the sidewall 28 out of reach of small fingers.

[0038] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view from the first side of the plate device showing the first end of the suction cup 34 in a rotational engagement with a post and angled sides contacting angled sides of the passage in which the post is positioned.

[0039] Additionally as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for example, the shape of the distal end of the projection 42 surrounding the axial passage 48 was found to provide a better and less noisy and vibrating engagement of the plate device 10 to a surface 40, if it were shaped complimentary to the shape of the cavity 46 defined by sides of the cavity 46. As such, as shown the side surfaces of the projection 42 are angled and shaped to substantially a mirror image of the angles of the bottom surface 38 forming the cavity 46, which as noted surrounds the member 44. By substantially is meant a mirror image but for slight deviations which may occur in manufacturing.

[0040] As noted, in FIG. 6 is shown a view of the bottom side 38 of the body 11 of the plate device 10, and shows the suction cup 34 removed from the rotational mount or engagement of the member 44 projecting within the cavity 46 formed into the bottom surface 38 which as noted runs axially within and is aligned with the cavity 46 and with the opening 30 formed in the sidewall 28 of the plate device 10. The sloped walls forming the cavity 46 can also be seen which are substantially matched by the shape of the opposing sides of the projection 42 from the suction cup 34.

[0041] In FIG. 7 is shown a top plan view of the bottom 38 of the body 11 of the plate device 10. As shown, the suction cup 34 is engaged with the bottom 38 and the flexible release flap 32 extends from the perimeter of the second end of the suction cup 34 toward but spaced from the opening 30 in the sidewall 28. Currently this space between the distal end 36 of the release flap 32 is preferably between one half inch to two inches.

[0042] An engaged configuration of the plate device 10 herein is shown in FIG. 8. As shown, the body 11 of the plate device 10 is in a removable engagement with an underlying support surface 40 and held in that position by the suction imparted by the collapsed suction cup 34 which can be seen through the opening 30 in the sidewall 28. The suction is releasable by pulling and/or lifting the release flap 32 in the manner described above which is shown aligned with the opening 30 but spaced from the sidewall 28 to maintain it out of reach and release by infants or child fingers but easily gripped and released by an adult with the dexterity and strength to overcome the suction to release the suction cup 34.

[0043] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the removably securable plate invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.