Patent ID: 9295349
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: A47G,B65D

Claim Text:
1. A dinnerware vessel-lid combination comprising: a vessel defined by a shallow ceramic or glass plate having an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge with a peripheral locking lip including a latch receiving curved surface and a locking surface, the plate vessel configured for serving a meal as a serving, dinner or salad plate; a lid fabricated of a plastic material, and configured to attach to the open top of the vessel by a set of latches integrally formed with the lid; and an elastomeric seal structure configured as a separate structure from the lid and configured to be removably assembled to the lid to provide an air-tight seal between the lid and the peripheral edge of the vessel when the lid is attached to the vessel, the seal structure configured to be removable from the lid to facilitate cleaning of the seal structure and the lid; wherein each of the latches is configured to ride over the latch receiving curved surface of the vessel as the latch is closed, compressing the seal structure while moving into position against the locking surface of the vessel, the seal structure providing a sufficient force to hold the set of latches in place on the vessel while providing said air-tight seal; and wherein the vessel is a shallow unitary structure having an outwardly sloping sidewall portion extending outwardly and upwardly from a bottom portion, the sidewall portion having a top peripheral portion with a lip portion including said locking lip, the top peripheral portion including the peripheral edge, the sidewall portion and the bottom portion defining an interior volume; and wherein the lid is a unitary structure and includes a web portion, a lid dome sidewall portion, and a lid peripheral edge portion, and the web portion is elevated by the sidewall portion, forming a lid dome structure providing additional protected dome volume within the lid for food on the plate, and the lid is configured for attachment to the plate without disturbing food items on the plate which extend above the peripheral edge of the plate within the additional protected dome volume.