Abstract:
Dishware is disclosed that includes a main dish having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of side dishes that can each be secured to a slot of the main dish. Each side dish has a bracket that extends from the body of the side dish, and a locking tab that extends downwardly from the bracket for engagement in a slot. The locking tab is insertable into a slot of the main dish so as to securely attach the side dish to the main dish. The bottom of each attached side dish is level with respect to the bottom of the main dish, so that the entire assembly of the main dish and all the attached side dishes can rest in a stable configuration on a level surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/966,766, filed on Mar. 4, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention generally relates to dishware, and more particularly to dishware with cooperative side dishes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    When serving and organizing meals, it is often desirable to separate or compartmentalize different fix-ins and ingredients. Multiple plates are often used to separate the fix-ins and ingredients. For example, when making a burrito, a central plate can be used for serving the tortilla, and side plates can be used to serve the fix-ins, such as salsa, guacamole, refried beans, etc. to be rolled up on the tortilla to form the burrito. Also, multiple plates are used to separate main entrees and side entrees to prevent the main entrees and side entrees from mixing. 
         [0004]    Using multiple plates increases the number of dishes that need to be later cleaned, consumes additional table space, and makes carrying the different plates more difficult and time consuming. This can be particularly problematic when food is served at informal gatherings, such as barbeques and picnics, where there may not be a table suitable for keeping enough dishes needed to separate and compartmentalize various fix-ins, ingredients, and entrees. Also, carrying multiple dishes around during an informal gathering can be particularly difficult for an individual. Further, there may not be sufficient dining table space to accommodate multiple dishes. 
         [0005]    Certain products attempt to address the issue of utilizing multiple dishes by associating side dishware with main dishware. However, such existing products fail to securely fasten side dishware to main dishware, causing spills, food loss, and loss of dishware. For example, some existing products use clip-on mechanisms, which generally require the use of two hands, and often fail to securely fasten the side dishes to main dishware. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The dishware, in accordance with the present invention, includes a main dish with side dishes attached to the main dish via slots in the main dish. The dishware greatly simplifies the dining experience, making it more convenient and easier for individuals to compartmentalize their food, and to carry multiple food items with ease. For example, the main dish can be used to carry an entrée, and each side dish can be used to carry side entrees, fix-ins ingredients, etc. As a result, carrying multiple food items (e.g., entrees, ingredients, fix-ins, etc.) can be accomplished with ease and with one hand. Further, carrying multiple food items can be accomplished without the need to make multiple trips, as would be required if each food item were served on separate dishes. The dishware can also save time and effort during clean up and storage, since fewer large dishes are used to serve food. This can save all users, including individual household users and established restaurants, substantial money savings from reduced water and energy usage. 
         [0007]    According to one general aspect of the invention, the dishware includes a main dish having at least one slot near the edge of the main dish; and a side dish having a body for containing food, a bracket extending from the edge of the body, and a locking tab extending downwardly from the bracket. The locking tab is insertable into the at least one slot of the main dish so as to securely attach the side dish to the main dish. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the body of the side dish has a tapered shape. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the side dish is shaped so as to be stackable with identical side dishes. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, when the side dish is securely attached to the main dish, a bottom of the side dish is level-set with respect to the bottom of the main dish. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the slot and the locking tab are each curved. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the bracket extends at a downward incline when the side dish is attached to the main dish. The downward incline matches the downward incline of the edge of the main dish. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the side dish further includes a top rim. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the main dish and the at least one side dish are made from one of: glass, plastic, ceramic, wood, and metal. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, a plurality of side dishes are attachable to the main dish. 
         [0016]    According to another general aspect of the invention, a main dish has at least one slot, and at least one side dish. The at least one side dish is attachable to the main dish via the at least one slot. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the main dish has a plurality of slots, and the at least one side dish is one among a plurality of side dishes that are each attachable via a slot in the main dish. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the side dish includes a body for containing food, and a locking tab connected to the body capable of being engaged in a slot of the main dish so as to attach the side dish to the main dish. The slot and the locking tab are each curved. The locking tab includes a bracket extending from the body to the locking tab. The bracket extends downward at an incline that matches a downward slope of the main dish. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the side dish is stackable with identical side dishes. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the side dish is attached to the main dish via the slot. Bottoms of the side dish and the main dish are co-planar, and so are mutually level-set on a flat surface. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the side dish further includes a top rim. 
         [0022]    In embodiments, the at least one slot is on an edge of the main dish. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a top-angled view of an example of dishware with pendent side dishes attached via slots in the dishware; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a bottom-angled view of the dishware of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a bottom-angled bottom view of the main dish of  FIG. 2 , with the side dishes removed; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a top-angled top view of the main dish of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , with the side dishes removed; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a close-up cut-away side view of a side dish connected via a slot in a main dish; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a bottom-angled view of a side dish; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a top-angled view of a side dish; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top-angled view of a stack of side dishes; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a bottom-angled view of a stack of side dishes; and 
           [0033]      FIGS. 10-12  illustrate a side dish being inserted into a slot via a locking tab. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top-angled view of an example of dishware with pendent side dishes attached via slots in the dishware. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the dishware  100  includes a main dish  102  and multiple side dishes  106  that are securable to the main dish  102  via slots  104  in the main dish  102 . Each slot  104  is on an edge of the main dish  102 . Each side dish  106  includes a top rim  108 , a food receptacle  110 , a bracket  112 , and a locking tab  114 . The bracket  112  extends from a body of the side dish  106 , and the locking tab  114  extends downwardly from the bracket  112  towards the slot  104 . The locking tab  114  is inserted through the slot  104 , whereby the side dish  106  is secured into the main dish  102 . Each side dish  106  can hold different ingredients, entrees, and/or fix-ins (e.g., within food receptacle  110 ). The dishware  100  can therefore conveniently organize and compartmentalize meals, while keeping the side dishes  106  secure to the main dish  102 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom-angled view of the dishware  100  with the side dishes  106  installed into the slots  104  of the main dish  102 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking tab  114  of the side dish  106  is inserted through the slot  104 . When inserted, the locking tab  114  may protrude slightly beneath the main dish  102 . As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the main dish  102  may include a bottom rim  116 , and the side dish  106  may include a bottom rim  118 . Each of the bottom rims  116 ,  118  is of a thickness such that the bottom of the main dish  102  and the bottom of the side dish  106  are level-set when the side dish  106  is installed in the main dish  102 , and when the main dish  102  and the side dish  106  are placed on a flat surface, such as a table. Also, each of the bottom rims  116 ,  118  raises most of the bottom surface area of the main dish  102  and of the side dish  106  up above the table, thereby reducing the surface area of the main dish  102  and side dish(es)  106  in thermal contact with the table. This also creates an insulating air gap between the bottom surface of the dishes and the table, helping to keep warm the food on the main dish  102  and in the side dish  106 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom-angled view of the main dish  102  with the side dishes  106  removed, for clarity of illustration. The slots  104  can be relatively narrow and have a curved shape so as to accommodate the locking tabs  114 , which can also have a curved shape.  FIG. 4  shows a top-angled view of the main dish  102  with the side dishes  106  removed, for clarity of illustration. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates the dishware  100  as a close-up cut-away side view of the side dish  106  installed in the main dish  102 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bracket  112  extends away from an exterior of the side dish  106 . The bracket  112  extends towards the main dish  102 , and terminates downward as locking tab  114 . The locking tab  114  extends downward and substantially perpendicularly from the bracket  112 , and has a thickness that is slightly smaller than a width of the slot  104 . As shown, the locking tab  114  is placed inside the slot  104  so as to secure the side dish  106  in place. The bottom rims  116 ,  118  have particular dimensions such that the main dish  102  and the side dish  106  are level-set when placed on a flat surface, such as a table. Also, the curved shape of the slots  104  and of the locking tabs  114  help to stabilize the side dish  106  when the main dish  102  is lifted while the side dish  106  is attached to the side dish  106 , thereby reducing the risk of spills. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show details of side dish  106  generally from above and below. As can be seen, the side dish  106  is completely detachable and separable from the main dish  102 . This permits the side dish  106  to be easily removed so that the side dish  106  can be separately washed or filled with food, without requiring a user to carry the main dish  102 . Further, the shape of the side dish  106  can be tapered so that multiple side dishes  106  can be stacked neatly. For example, in  FIGS. 8-9 , multiple side dishes  106  are shown as neatly stackable. A height of the locking tab  114  further permits multiple side dishes  106  to stack neatly and conveniently, thereby facilitating easy storage of the side dishes  106  with minimal required storage space. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 10-12  illustrate a side dish  106  being inserted into a slot  104  via a locking tab  114 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the locking tab  114  is aligned with the slot  104 . Moving to  FIG. 11 , the side dish  106  is lowered towards the locking tab  114 . Finally, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the locking tab  114  is inserted into the slot  104 , thereby securely connecting the side dish  106  to the main dish  102 . As can be seen, the side dish  106  can be connected to the main dish  102  relatively easily, and securely, with the use of just one hand. 
         [0040]    In various implementations, the main dish  102  and the side dish  106  can be made from different materials, such as glass, plastic, ceramic, or combination of these or other materials. The main dish  102  and the side dish  106  can be made from materials of different thicknesses and strengths, so as to make them dishwasher and microwave safe. The main dish  102  and the side dish  106  can be manufactured using die-casting processes, computer numeric control (CNC) processes, and/or other manufacturing processes/techniques. The main dish  102  and the side dish  106  can be made of various sizes, proportions, shapes, and dimensions other than those shown. 
         [0041]    The dishware  100  substantially reduces burdens in the kitchen that every day individuals face when preparing meals for guests and family. In an example use, dishware  100  makes serving meals, such as tacos, hamburgers, vegetable platters, meat platters, etc., much simpler by simplifying the separation of fix-ins and other ingredients. For example, fix-ins for tacos can be individually separated into separate side dishes  106  (e.g., within the food receptacle  110 ), while taco shells and tortillas can be served on the main dish  102 . The fix-ins can be neatly and conveniently compartmentalized, without risk of the fix-ins inadvertently mixing with a neighboring fix-in on the same plate. Diners can then easily customize their meals by picking and choosing their fix-ins from the individual and separate side dishes  106 . 
         [0042]    Also, a number of side dishes  106  can be attached to the main dish  102  so that an individual can carry multiple foods in one trip and with one hand. This can help diners to carry multiple different dishes from one room to another with one hand instead of having to make multiple trips or try to carry multiple plates, which can result in accidental spills. Also, restaurant servers can carry more items with fewer hands, thereby enabling the server to serve more guests, and to thereby bring in greater revenues for the restaurant and increase the server&#39;s tip revenues. 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, one or more side dishes  106  can be configured so as to hold other items instead of food, such as eating and serving utensils, so that diners can easily access those utensils. Additionally, or alternatively, a side dish  106  can be adapted to hold a cup for beverages, thus permitting a diner to carry food on the main dish  102 , and a beverage within the side dish  106 , all with one hand. This can also save a restaurant server&#39;s time and effort. 
         [0044]    In some implementations, the main dish  102  and/or the side dish(es)  106  can include measuring indicia within the food receptacle  110 . Measuring indicia can aid a user with accurately filling a dish with a desired amount of food. This can be useful to aid in portion control for dieting purposes, and/or to aid in cooking to allow a cook to accurately measuring ingredients. 
         [0045]    The dishware  100  greatly simplifies the dining experience, making it more convenient and easier for individuals to compartmentalize their food, and to carry multiple food items with ease. The dishware  100  can also save time and effort during clean up and storage, since fewer large dishes are used to serve food. This can save all users, including individual household users and established restaurants, substantial money savings from reduced water and energy usage. Also, each side dish  106  can include a cover to store food for later consumption. 
         [0046]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific sizes, shapes, or applications described. 
         [0047]    It is to be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features, regardless of whether a combination is explicitly described. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
         [0048]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.