MULTI-USE PLATE

Abstract

Embodiments of a multi-use plate are described herein. The multi-use plate includes a first rim around a perimeter of the multi-use plate that encircles a first basin and a second basin. The multi-use plate further includes a second rim that separates the first basin and the second basin. The first basin includes a first basin floor and a first basin side wall at an obtuse angle to the first basin floor. The second basin includes a second basin floor and a second basin side wall at an obtuse angle to the second basin floor. The first basin extends down from the first rim at a first distance, whereas the second basin extends from the first rim at a second distance greater than the first distance. The multi-use plate further includes one or more support ribs extending from the second basin floor to the second rim towards the first basin floor to increase a moment of inertia.

Claims

1. A multi-use plate comprising: a plurality of basins including at least: a first basin encircled by a first rim and including a first basin side wall that extends a first distance down from the first rim to a first basin floor, wherein the first basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the first basin floor, and a second basin encircled by a second rim and including a second basin side wall that extends a second distance down from the second rim to a second basin floor, wherein the second basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the second basin floor, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and a separating feature that separates the first basin from the second basin, the separating feature including one or more support ribs that increase a moment of inertia of the separating feature.

2. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the basins and the separating feature are formed from a material having one or more material thicknesses between 0.5 to 2.0 mm.

3. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the material includes paper.

4. The multi-use plate of claim 1, further comprising one or more legs extending down from the first rim and ending in one or more contact points that are planar with the second basin floor.

5. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the second basin floor and two of the contact points are respectively positioned at vertices of a triangular shape.

6. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the first basin is 5 to 25 mm below the first rim.

7. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the second basin is 20 to 75 mm below the first rim.

8. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the support ribs have a pyramidal shape.

9. The multi-use plate of claim 1, further comprising a perimeter rim that encircles at least a portion of the first basin and at least a portion of the second basin.

10. The multi-use plate of claim 9, further comprising one or more apertures in the perimeter rim, wherein each aperture is sized to allow pass-through of a handle portion of a utensil and to retain a functional end of a utensil above the perimeter rim.

11. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the first basin is configured to nest within a first basin of another multi-use plate, and wherein the second basin is configured to nest within a second basin of the other multi-use plate.

12. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the first basin is configured to allow a first basin of another multi-use plate to be nested within, and wherein the second basin is configured to allow a second basin of the other multi-use plate to be nested within.

13. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the second basin is configured to fit a standard beverage can in the second basin floor.

14. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the second basin floor is circular in shape.

15. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the support ribs are offset a vertical distance from the first basin floor.

16. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the support ribs are set at an angle from vertical greater than an angle of the second basin side wall.

17. The multi-use plate of claim 1, wherein the support ribs form a support rib lip at the second rim.

18. A multi-use plate comprising: a material having one or more material thicknesses between 0.5 to 2.0 mm, wherein the material is used to form: a plurality of basins including at least: a first basin encircled by a first rim and including a first basin side wall that extends down between 5 to 25 mm from the first rim to a first basin floor, wherein the first basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the first basin floor, and a second basin encircled by a second rim and including a second basin side wall that extends down between 20 to 75 mm from the second rim to a second basin floor, wherein the second basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the second basin floor; and a separating feature that separates the first basin from the second basin, the separating feature including one or more support ribs.

19. The multi-use plate of claim 18, wherein the material includes paper.

20. The multi-use plate of claim 18, further comprising a perimeter rim and one or more apertures in the perimeter rim, wherein each aperture is sized to allow pass-through of a handle portion of a utensil and to retain a functional end of a utensil above the perimeter rim.

21. The multi-use plate of claim 18, wherein the first basin is configured to nest within a first basin of another multi-use plate, and wherein the second basin is configured to nest within a second basin of the other multi-use plate.

22. The multi-use plate of claim 18, wherein the first basin is configured to allow a first basin of another multi-use plate to be nested within, and wherein the second basin is configured to allow a second basin of the other multi-use plate to be nested within.

23. The multi-use plate of claim 18, wherein the second basin is configured to fit a standard beverage can in the second basin floor.

24. The multi-use plate of claim 18, wherein the second basin floor is circular in shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0005] FIG. 1A depicts an isometric view of a plate.

[0006] FIG. 1B depicts a top-down view of a plate.

[0007] FIG. 2A depicts a side view of a plate.

[0008] FIG. 2B depicts a side-cutaway view of a plate.

[0009] FIG. 3A depicts an isometric view of a plurality of plates nestably stacked together.

[0010] FIG. 3B depicts a side view of a plurality of plates nestably stacked together.

[0011] FIG. 3C depicts a cut-away view of a plurality of plates nestably stacked together.

[0012] FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of a plate supporting a beverage cannister, foodstuffs and a utensil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 1A depicts an isometric view and FIG. 1B depicts a top-down view of plate 100 representing one example embodiment of the present invention. plate 100 may form into two or more basins. As depicted, plate 100 has cup basin 102 adjacent to basin 101, separated by cup basin rim 107. Perimeter rim 104 may form around the perimeter of plate 100, encircling a portion of basin 101 and cup basin 102 each. Between the perimeter rim 104 and the basin 101, one or more rims may encircle the basin 101. Basin 101 may extend down from perimeter rim 104 a sufficient distance to ensure contents placed in basin 101 do not readily fall out, such as liquids, small solids, or other small objects. As an example, basin floor 113 may be 5 to 25 millimeters below perimeter rim 104. Along the walls of basin 101 that extend between perimeter rim 104 and basin floor 113, several ribbed features may be formed in order to increase the structural rigidity of plate 100.

[0015] Cup basin 102 may extend down from perimeter rim 104 a sufficient distance to ensure contents placed in basin 101 do not readily fall out, such as liquids, small solids, common bottles such as beer or soda bottles, common cans such as soda cans or beer cans, cups, glasses, tapered or cylindrical vessels, or other similar objects. As an example, the bottom wall of cup basin 102 may be 20 to 75 millimeters below perimeter rim 104. Along a separating portion between the basin 101 and the cup basin 102, several ribbed features may be formed in order to increase the structural rigidity of plate 100. Cup basin floor 114 may be circular in shape, and a diameter to allow for a common soda can to rest completely with the sides of the soda can not coincide with the walls between cup basin floor 114 and perimeter rim 104.

[0016] Cup basin rim 107 may form around the top edge of cup basin 102 to separate cup basin 102 from basin 101. Cup basin rim 107 may be planar with perimeter rim 104 or the o one or more rims may encircle the basin 101, and may be adjacent to several ribbed features as shown to increase structural rigidity. One or more support rib 103 may be disposed along cup basin rim 107 or the separating feature between the basin 101 and the cup basin 102, with side walls that increase the moment of inertia to help prevent cup basin 102 from deflecting towards basin 101 along bend axis 108. An example use case is if a user is holding plate 100 substantially near bend axis 108, such as with a hand, then the weight of objects placed in basin 101 and cup basin 102 would cause plate 100 to bend or deflect substantially around bend axis 108. One or more support rib 103 are configured to increase the moment of inertia around bend axis 108 to reduce the deflection of cup basin 102 and basin 101 in a downward direction.

[0017] Support rib 103 may extend from substantially near cup basin floor 114 towards cup basin rim 107. A back wall of support rib 103 may be at an angle to intersect the wall between cup basin rim 107 and basin floor 113 such that support rib lip 106 is offset a vertical distance away from basin floor 113, such as 1 to 25 millimeters. In this way, support rib 103 is a triangular or pyramidal shape, however rectangular, circular, curved, or complex shapes are contemplated.

[0018] One or more aperture 105 may be disposed along perimeter rim 104 or cup basin rim 107. aperture 105 may be configured in a slot shape, either a linear slot or a curved slot, with circular ends (as shown) or rectangular ends or triangular ends. aperture 105 may be configured to allow a handle portion of a utensil to pass through, but to prevent the functional end of the utensil to pass through, such functional end being a fork, spoon, knife, or other similar tool. In an example method of use, plate 100 may be lifted and held by hand 112 somewhere near bend axis 108. Then, the handle end of utensil 109 may be placed through aperture 105 until the functional end of utensil 109 abuts the edges of aperture 105 and prevents utensil 109 from continuing to pass through aperture 105.

[0019] In other example embodiments, one or more legs 115 may extend down from basin floor 113 or perimeter rim 104 on a side opposite from cup basin 102, such as across bend axis 108. From a top-down view, in one example, the one or more legs 115 and the cup basin 102 may form contact points that are planar. The contact points may be positioned at vertices of a triangular shape.

[0020] Basin 101 may be manufactured from paper, plant fiber, plastic, foam, or other suitable materials. In a plant fiber form, plant fibers may be arranged into a semi-dry or semi-wet sheet of a substantially uniform thickness. A form of plate 100 may be created into two halves of a mold, wherein the mold is made of steel or other suitable material for mass production. The plant-fiber sheet may then be placed between the two halves of the mold, and the mold halves may compress together, forcing the plant-fiber sheet to form around the contours of the mold into the shape of plate 100. The mold may also trim the edges of the plant-fiber sheet to render the final form of plate 100, of the form of plate 100 may be within the plant-fiber sheet, and a secondary process to trim off the excess sides of the plant-fiber sheet may be conducted to render the final form of plate 100. plate 100 may be heated to reduce the moisture content of the plant-fiber sheet and harden plate 100 as a final product. In some example embodiments, a wax coating may be applied to the surface of plate 100.

[0021] FIG. 2A depicts a side view of plate 100 and FIG. 2B depicts a cut-away side view of plate 100, representing one example embodiment of the present invention. In this example embodiment, cup basin floor 114 extends below basin floor 113. In other example embodiments, basin floor 113 and cup basin floor 114 may be substantially coincident. In yet other examples, cup basin floor 114 and the bottom of one or more legs 115 may be coincident, and basin floor 113 may be disposed at a higher elevation. As depicted, support rib 103 may be at an angle to vertical greater than the side walls of cup basin 102, to form a support rib lip 106 at the apex and joining the basin floor 113. The side walls of cup basin 102 may form an obtuse angle with cup basin floor 114, and the side walls of basin 101 may form an obtuse angle with basin floor 113. As depicted in FIG. 2B, plate 100 is formed in a substantially uniform wall thickness. In some example embodiments, the wall thicknesses of the plate 100, including the basin 101, the cup basin 102, the perimeter rim 104, and the separating feature may be between 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters thick.

[0022] In other example embodiments, one or more legs 115 may extend down from basin floor 113 or perimeter rim 104 on a side opposite from cup basin 102, such as across bend axis 108. From a side view, in one example, two legs 115 may each form a trapezius or a triangular shape. In one example, from a side view, the cup basin 102 may form a trapezius or a triangular shape.

[0023] FIGS. 3A through 3C depict various views of a plurality of plate 100 forming a stack 116, representing one example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A depics an isometric view of the plurality of plates 100 nestably stacked together. FIG. 3B depicts a side view of the plurality of plates nestably stacked together. FIG. 3C depicts a cut-away view of the plurality of plates nestably stacked together. In this example, plate 100 are able to stack on top one another such that the exterior walls of cup basin 102 and basin 101 on a first plate 100 nest within the respective interior walls of cup basin 102 and basin 101 of a second plate 100. The vertical gap between a first and second plate 100 may be determined by the obtuse angle between cup basin floor 114 and side walls of cup basin 102, or by the obtuse angle between basin floor 113 and the side walls of basin 101, or another constraining interface. The side walls of cup basin 102 and basin 101 may be configured to have obtuse angles to cup basin floor 114 and basin floor 113, respectively, to achieve a desired distance between a first plate 100 and a second plate 100 when a first plate 100 is stacked on top of a second plate 100 in a nestable configuration. A plurality of plates 100 may be configured to nest together.

[0024] FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of plate 100 supported by hand 112 and supporting a beverage cannister 110, utensil 109, and foodstuffs 111, representing one example embodiment of the present invention. As shown, hand 112 supports plate 100 substantially in line with bend axis 108. A beverage cannister 110 is placed into cup basin 102, and one or more foodstuffs 111 are placed into basin 101. Utensil 109 is placed through aperture 105 along the perimeter rim 104, such that the functional end of utensil 109, in this case a fork head, abuts the edges of aperture 105 and prevents utensil 109 from readily falling through or passing through aperture 105 due to the force of gravity.

[0025] The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims.

[0026] Other variations are within the spirit of the present disclosure. Thus, while the disclosed techniques are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

[0027] The use of the terms a and an and the and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosed embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms comprising, having, including, and containing are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning including, but not limited to,) unless otherwise noted. The term connected is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0028] Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.