Dual-Function Plate Device

Abstract

A dual-function plate device is provided. The device is comprised of a food storage and transport device comprised of a body made from materials such as paper, bamboo fiber, or plastic, shaped like various types of plates or bowls. The body includes a flat bottom wall and a raised edge designed to prevent spills. The raised edge features two reciprocating fasteners, such as male and female or tongue and groove types, allowing two of the devices to be removably attached to create a sealed food container. The device also includes pull tabs to facilitate the separation of attached units. The invention further comprises a method for using the device, where two devices can be joined to store leftover food securely within.

Claims

1. A dual-function plate device comprising: a body comprised of a bottom wall and a raised edge extending above the bottom wall; and wherein a top surface of the raised edge is comprised of a first fastener and a second fastener.

2. The dual-function plate device of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a pulped paper, a recycled paper, a bagasse, a bamboo fiber, a palm leaf, a starch-based material, or a clay-coated paperboard.

3. The dual-function plate device of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a plastic material.

4. The dual-function plate device of claim 1, wherein the body is shaped as a salad plate, soup bowl, dinner plate, dessert plate, side plate, pasta bowl, cereal bowl, platter, saucer, charger plate, shallow bowl, serving bowl, appetizer plate, soup plate, ramekin, tureen, fruit bowl, or a compote dish.

5. The dual-function plate device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is comprised of a debossed edge and the second fastener is comprised of an embossed edge.

6. The dual-function plate device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are comprised of a male fastener or a female fastener, a tongue fastener and a groove fastener, or a snap fastener.

7. The dual-function plate device of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a pull tab.

8. The dual-function plate device of claim 7, wherein the pull tab is comprised of a fixed pull tab, a foldable pull tab, or a perforated pull tab.

9. A dual-function plate device comprising: a body comprised of a bottom wall and a raised edge extending above the bottom wall, wherein a top surface of the raised edge is comprised of a first fastener and a second fastener, the first fastener positioned outside of the second fastener on the top surface.

10. The dual-function plate device of claim 9, wherein the body is comprised of a pulped paper, a recycled paper, a bagasse, a bamboo fiber, a palm leaf, a starch-based material, or a clay-coated paperboard.

11. The dual-function plate device of claim 9, wherein the body is comprised of a plastic material.

12. The dual-function plate device of claim 9, wherein the body is shaped as a salad plate, soup bowl, dinner plate, dessert plate, side plate, pasta bowl, cereal bowl, platter, saucer, charger plate, shallow bowl, serving bowl, appetizer plate, soup plate, ramekin, tureen, fruit bowl, or a compote dish.

13. The dual-function plate device of claim 9, wherein the first fastener is comprised of a debossed edge and the second fastener is comprised of an embossed edge.

14. The dual-function plate device of claim 9, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are comprised of a male fastener or a female fastener, a tongue fastener and a groove fastener, or a snap fastener.

15. The dual-function plate device of claim 9, wherein the body is comprised of a pull tab.

16. The dual-function plate device of claim 15, wherein the pull tab is comprised of a fixed pull tab, a foldable pull tab, or a perforated pull tab.

17. A method of using a dual-function plate device, the method comprising the following steps: providing a first dual-function plate device comprising a first body comprised of a first bottom wall and a first raised edge, the first raised edge having a first fastener and a second fastener; placing a food item into the first body of the first dual-function plate device; and attaching a second dual-function plate device in an upside-down position to the first dual-function plate device by engaging the first fastener and the second fastener of the first dual-function plate device with a third fastener and a fourth fastener of the second dual-function plate device to create a sealed container for storing the food item within the first dual-function plate device and the second dual-function plate device.

18. The method of using a dual-function plate device of claim 17, wherein the first body is comprised of a pulped paper, a recycled paper, a bagasse, a bamboo fiber, a palm leaf, a starch-based material, or a clay-coated paperboard.

19. The method of using a dual-function plate device of claim 17, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are comprised of an embossed edge and a debossed edge.

20. The method of using a dual-function plate device of claim 17, wherein the third fastener and the fourth fastener are comprised of an embossed edge and a debossed edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a dual-function plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a dual-function plate device of the present invention with two devices unattached in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a dual-function plate device of the present invention with two devices attached in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method of using one potential embodiment of a dual-function plate device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0020] As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved food transportation device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a dual-function plate device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a dual-function plate device that can be used as a secure food transport container. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a dual-function plate device that can be used as a secure food transport.

[0021] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a dual-function plate device comprised of a body preferably made from either paper or plastic material. The body can take the form of any plate or bowl known in the art. Specifically, the body includes a flat bottom wall and at least one raised edge, which extends above the bottom wall to prevent contents from spilling out.

[0022] The top of the raised edge is equipped with two fasteners, a first fastener and a second fastener. These fasteners are preferably of the reciprocating type, allowing two devices to be removably attached to each other to form a sealed container for food transportation. The first fastener has a debossed edge, while the second fastener features an embossed edge. To facilitate separating the two devices after attachment, each one may include at least one pull tab.

[0023] The invention also includes a method for using the device. First, a device is provided, featuring a body with a raised edge and two fasteners. A food item can then be placed in the body and eaten from it. If food remains, a second device can be secured upside down onto the first device using their respective fasteners to create a sealed container.

[0024] Thus, the dual-function plate device offers a significant advantage as it provides an improved food transport solution. Specifically, two devices can be connected to form a secure food container, or a single device can function as a plate. This dual-purpose design overcomes the limitations of conventional food transport devices.

[0025] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a dual-function plate device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device 100 is comprised of a body 110. The body 110 is preferably made from a paper material such as but not limited to a pulped paper, a recycled paper, a bagasse, a bamboo fiber, a palm leaf, a starch-based material, a clay-coated paperboard, etc. or a plastic material. The body 110 may be shaped as any type of plate or bowl known in the art such as but not limited to a plate, a bowl, a salad plate, a soup bowl, a dinner plate, a dessert plate, a side plate (bread plate), a pasta bowl, a cereal bowl, a platter, a saucer, a charger plate, a shallow bowl, a serving bowl, an appetizer plate, a soup plate, a ramekin, a tureen, a fruit bowl, a compote dish, etc.

[0026] More specifically, the body 110 is comprised of a bottom wall 150 that is preferably flat. The body 110 is also comprised of at least one edge 120. The edge 120 is preferably a raised edge that is raised above the bottom wall 150 to prevent contents within the body 110 from spilling outside of the body 110.

[0027] The top surface 130 of the raised edge 120 is comprised of at least two fasteners, a first fastener 132 and a second fastener 134. The fasteners 132,134 are preferably reciprocating fasteners of any type. This allows a first device 100 and a second device 100 to be removably attached to one another, as seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, to form a sealed container for transporting food. More specifically, the first fastener 132 is comprised of a debossed edge. The second fastener 134 is preferably comprised of an embossed edge. The second fastener 134 is preferably positioned inside the first fastener 132 on the top surface 130, as seen in FIG. 1. The fasteners 132,134 may also be reciprocating fastener types such as but not limited to male and female, tongue and groove, a snap fastener, etc. The fasteners 132,134 are preferably positioned radially around the top surface 130.

[0028] To facilitate pulling two devices 100 apart after being attached to one another, each device 100 may be comprised of at least one pull tap 140. The pull tab 140 can be grasped to pull a first device 100 off of a second device 100. The pull tab 140 may be a fixed pull tab, a foldable pull tab, a perforated pull tab, etc.

[0029] It should be appreciated that two devices 100 with two different body 110 styles (as noted above) may be attached to each other to create custom-shaped and dimensioned food storage containers.

[0030] The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in FIG. 4. First, a first device 100 is provided comprised of a body 110 comprised of a raised edge 120 comprised of a first fastener 132 and a second fastener 134 [Step 202]. Then, a food item can be placed into the body 110 and eaten from inside the body 110 [Step 204]. If food remains within the body 110, a second device 100 can be secured in an upside-down position to the first device 100 via the fasteners 132,134 of the first device 100 and fasteners 132,134 of the second device 100 [Step 206].

[0031] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein dual-function plate device and device are interchangeable and refer to the dual-function plate device 100 of the present invention.

[0032] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the dual-function plate device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the dual-function plate device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the dual-function plate device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the dual-function plate device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the dual-function plate device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0033] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0034] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term includes is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprising as comprising is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.