System for decorative space-saving measuring cups

A system for decorative space-saving measuring cups is a set of modified nesting doll that can be used to measure sequential volumetric quantities. Each of the nesting dolls can split apart into a first measuring cup and a second measuring cup, which are sized to hold two different volumes of a substance. The second measuring cup of an arbitrary nesting doll is always elevated by the second measuring cup of the next-largest nesting doll so that the second measuring cup of the arbitrary nesting doll is easier to grasp.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a set of measuring containers. Furthermore, the containers are in the shape of Matryoshka dolls and can be stacked and nested within one another. Additionally, each half of the doll acts as a separate measuring container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A Matryoshka doll is a set of dolls, decreasing in size, that can be rested one inside another. Traditionally these dolls are made of wood. The Matryoshka doll design has been incorporated into the use of measuring cups, where each half of each doll is a unique size measuring cup. In these designs the inner dolls sit at the bottom of the outer dolls making them difficult to remove. Often times it is necessary to flip the bottom pieces upside down in order to remove the inner pieces. This can be problematic as the preferred material for these dolls is ceramic and it is easy for the inner piece to fall out and break when flipped over. As a result most designs have settled for using dolls made of plastic.

Therefore it is the object of the present invention to provide a design that allows the inner doll measuring cups to be easily removed from the outer doll measuring cups. The bottoms of the inner cups are raised such that the inner bottom cup rests in a position raised above the outer bottom cup. In addition the inner bottom cups can still lie flat on a level surface. This design also allows for Matryoshka doll measuring cups to be made of ceramic, their preferred material, as the cups are much less likely to break while being removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a system for decorative space-saving measuring cups, which are used to measure quantities of a substance such as liquids or bulk solids. The present invention comprises a plurality of nesting dolls3, which are used as the space-saving technique for the present invention. Each of the plurality of nesting dolls3is a different sequential size so that each of the plurality of nesting dolls3has a different volumetric capacity and has the ability to fit inside the next-largest nesting doll. In addition, each of the plurality of nesting dolls3comprises a first measuring cup1and a second measuring cup2. Each of the plurality of nesting dolls3is a kind of enclosed capsule, which can then be broken into the first measuring cup1and the second measuring cup2. The first measuring cup1and the second measuring cup2are designed to hold to two different quantities, which is illustrated inFIG. 3C. More specifically, the first measuring cup1is sized to hold a larger volume than the second measuring cup2because the internal volume of the second measuring cup2will house additional components and will consequently have less internal volume to hold substances than the first measuring cup1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of nesting dolls3is shaped to resemble traditional Matryoshka dolls, each of which is typically split into nearly equal halves. Also in the preferred embodiment, the plurality of nesting dolls3has an outer doll, a middle doll, and an inner doll. For the outer doll, the first measuring cup1is sized to hold a volumetric quantity of one cup, and the second measuring cup2is sized to hold a volumetric quantity of three-fourths of a cup. For the middle doll, the first measuring cup1is sized to hold a volumetric quantity of two-thirds of a cup, and the second measuring cup2is sized to hold a volumetric quantity of one-half of a cup. For the inner doll, the first measuring cup1is sized to hold a volumetric quantity of one-third of a cup, and the second measuring cup2is sized to hold a volumetric quantity of one-fourth of a cup. The plurality of nesting dolls3is preferably made of ceramic but can be made of other suitable materials as well, such as plastic or wood.

The first measuring cup1and the second measuring cup2allow the present invention to hold and quantify different amounts of a substance. As can be seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, the first measuring cup1comprises a first flat base11, a first lateral portion12, a first brim13, a first notch14, and a first volume label15. The first flat base11allows the first measuring cup1to contain a substance from the bottom. The first flat base11also allows the first measuring cup1to evenly rest upon another flat surface such as a table or a kitchen counter. The first lateral portion12allows the first measuring cup1to contain the substance from the side. Thus, the first flat base11must be perpendicularly positioned and perimetrically connected to the first lateral portion12, which prevents any spillage of the substance over the first brim13. The first brim13is the pouring edge of the first measuring cup1and is positioned opposite to the first flat base11along the first lateral portion12. The first notch14is integrated around the first brim13and allows the first measuring cup1to attach to the second measuring cup2.

Similarly, the second measuring cup2comprises a second flat base21, a second lateral portion22, a second brim23, a second notch24, a second volume label25, and a pedestal26, which are shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. The second flat base21allows the second measuring cup2to contain a substance from the bottom. The second flat base21also allows the second measuring cup2to evenly rest upon another flat surface such as a table or a kitchen counter. The second lateral portion22allows the second measuring cup2to contain the substance from the side. Thus, the second flat base21must be perpendicularly positioned and perimetrically connected to the second lateral portion22, which prevents any spillage of the substance over the second brim23. The second brim23is the pouring edge of the second measuring cup2and is positioned opposite to the second flat base21along the second lateral portion22. The second notch24is integrated around the second brim23and allows the second measuring cup2to attach to the first measuring cup1. Different from the first measuring cup1, the pedestal26is used to more efficiently stack the second measuring cup2from different nesting dolls onto each other. Thus, the pedestal26is located inside the second lateral portion22and centrally connected onto the second flat base21so that the second measuring cup2can evenly support the next-smallest nesting doll.

As can be seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, the first measuring cup1and the second measuring cup2can be detachably connected to each other in order to form each of the plurality of nesting dolls3. The first measuring cup1is positioned upon the second measuring cup2so that the opening of the first measuring cup1is concentric to the opening of the second measuring cup2. The first brim13is positioned adjacent to the second brim23so that the first notch14can interlock with the second notch24. Thus, the first measuring cup1and the second measuring cup2form a kind of capsule for each of the plurality of nesting dolls3. Interlocking the first notch14to the second notch24also prevents the first measuring cup1from sliding off the second measuring cup2. The first notch14and the second notch24also allow the first measuring cup1to be easily pulled off the second measuring cup2with a small amount of force.

The present invention is designed so the first measuring cup1and the second measuring cup2for each of the plurality of nesting dolls3can be easily grasped by a user. The first measuring cup1for each of the plurality of nesting dolls3can be grasped from the top and lifted off of the second measuring cup2. The second measuring cup2for each of the plurality of nesting dolls3is positioned in a pyramid formation, which is created by stacking the second measuring cup2for each of the plurality of nesting dolls3onto each other. For every arbitrary doll31with a next-largest doll32, the arbitrary doll31is elevated from the next-largest doll32, which is shown inFIG. 10. The second flat base21of the arbitrary doll31needs to be situated upon the pedestal26of the next-largest doll32, which raises the second brim23of the arbitrary doll31above the second brim23of the next-largest doll32. Thus, a user can cleanly grasp the second brim23of the arbitrary doll31because the second brim23of the arbitrary doll31is outside of the second lateral portion22of the next-largest doll32. The second measuring cup2of the arbitrary doll31can be easily removed from the second measuring cup2of the next-largest doll32without having to turn any components upside down and risk them falling out and breaking because the plurality of nesting dolls3is preferably made of ceramic.

The present invention is also designed with informative and aesthetically-pleasing visual markers. In reference toFIG. 3A, one such visual marker is a first volume marker for the first measuring cup1. The first volume label15indicates what volume that the first measuring cup1is able to contain when the first measuring cup1is filled to the first brim13. The first volume label15can be positioned anywhere on the first measuring cup1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first volume label15is located within the first lateral portion12and is centrally positioned onto the first flat base11, which allows a user to see the first volume label15before filling the first measuring cup1with the substance. Likewise, another such visual marker is a second volume label25for the second measuring cup2, which is shown inFIG. 3B. The second volume label25indicates what volume that the second measuring cup2is able to contain when the second measuring cup2is filled to the second brim23. The second volume label25can be positioned anywhere on the second measuring cup2. In the preferred embodiment, the second volume label25is located within the second lateral portion22and is centrally positioned onto the pedestal26, which allows a user to see the second volume label25before filling the second measuring cup2with the substance. In reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, another such visual marker is a painted graphic4for each of the plurality of nesting dolls3. In the preferred embodiment, the painted graphic4should resemble those of traditional Matryoshka dolls but could be used to depict any aesthetic theme amongst the plurality of nesting dolls3. The painted graphic4is positioned across the combined outer surface of the first lateral portion12and the second lateral portion22so that the painted graphic4of the next-smallest doll can be seen when an arbitrary doll is opened.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of nesting dolls3has a small gap of approximately 2-3 millimeters between each other when the plurality of nesting dolls3is in the stacked position. When the present invention is not being shipped, the small gap does not serve a function. The small gap allows for the use of packing materials while shipping the present invention. Ideally, the inner nesting dolls are each packaged in a foam bag. The small gap provides enough room such that one inner nesting doll and its foam bag can be stacked within another inner nesting doll. This allows the present invention to be safely shipped and ensures that its components remain undamaged. Additionally, this present invention allows its components to be shipped in their stacked position, thus reducing the amount of shelf space needed to store the present invention.