Abstract:
A kit containing portion control tableware, the kit containing a portion control plate and a portion control drinking cup, whereby when used, the portion control cup limits the amount of beverage consumed to a healthy portion size, and the portion control plate provides a visual indication of the size of a healthy portion.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to portion control food ware, and more particularly, to portion control food and drink containers that require users moderate their intake. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Obesity is an epidemic that will affect 1 in 3 Americans. It is estimated that today, $1.47 billion is spent annually on healthcare treating obesity related illnesses and conditions that result from them. Obesity does not only alter the physical appearance, but greatly compromises their overall health, and increases risk of cancer, heart diseases, liver diseases, diabetes and a plethora of other diseases. Obesity is caused by a number of factors such as lack of education, social status, lifestyle, advertisements, parenting, physical condition, medical, psychological or emotional factors, etc. 
         [0004]    One of key factors in obesity is the large portions of food and drinks that some people consume. Frequently restaurants serve extra-large portions of foods, which are commonly two to four times bigger than the government&#39;s recommended serving sizes. 
         [0005]    Portion control is understanding how much a serving size is and how many calories a serving contains. Portion control is important for weight management, as weight is often related to total caloric intake. Healthy eating, even according to the philosophies and theories of ancient teachers including Aristotle, is the desirable middle between the extremes of excess and deficiency, i.e., over-eating and not eating enough, respectively, or the “golden mean”. Portion control is generally characterized by or associated with eating a healthy balance of amount and types of foods. Portion sizes can be estimated by using objects as a point of reference. One way of determining portion size is to compare hand size. For example a healthy serving of protein should not be larger than a palm size piece of meat. Carbohydrate servings such as pasta can be measured by fistfuls. A healthy serving of pasta or rice should be one fistful. 
         [0006]    The purpose of the present invention is to aim for the gradual and subtle change of eating behaviors through awareness of food intake and portion control. The goal of the present invention is to get users to eat approximately 20% less that they would otherwise have eaten or typically do eat. This concept is echoed by long living Okinawans in Japan and elsewhere who have a cultural eating philosophy or practice of “eat only until you&#39;re 80% full”. 
       ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    One object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a subtle, easy and friendly dinner and table ware for people who want to portion control their food and beverage intake. 
         [0008]    Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a subtle and discreet way to remind users without making them self-conscious, even in a social setting. 
         [0009]    Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a clear visual signal to a user when a healthy, desirable size of a portion is exceeded 
         [0010]    Yet another object and advantage of the present invention is provide an interactive way to encourage users to adhere to a diet plan. 
         [0011]    Yet another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide eating portion ware having a specific, functional and unique structure, having advantages and benefits over and above existing generic portion ware. 
         [0012]    Further details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent through the following descriptions, and will be included and incorporated herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a representative top isometric view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention showing the top face  102 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  is a representative isometric view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention showing the bottom face  101 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 1C  is a representative cross-sectional view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1D  is a representative lower view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention showing the bottom face  101 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a representative schematic view showing a method of use of portion control plate  100  of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a representative schematic view showing a method of use of portion control plate  100  of the present invention in the tipping mode. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are representative top isometric view and side view respectively of portion control cup  200  of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3C and 3D  are representative right-side and left-side cross-sectional view respectively of portion control cup  200  of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are representative isometric views of portion control dinner and table ware system  300  of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the prior described drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    The description that follows is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principals discussed below may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but the invention is to be given the largest possible scope which is consistent with the principals and features described herein. 
         [0024]    For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the prior described drawings. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  is a representative top isometric view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention showing the top face  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , portion control plate  100  resembles a regular dinner plate which is a circular, broad, concave, but mainly flat platter-like vessel on which food can be loaded and served. In one embodiment, the surface area of top face  102  is divided into two portions, viz. serving portion  103  and raised portion  104 . In one embodiment, raised portion  104  is a sector of the circular top face  102 , accounting for an approximate 20% of the total surface area. Thus, central angle A is approximately 72°. 
         [0026]    As an important design element of portion control plate  100  of the present invention, raised portion  104  is visually distinctive to serving portion  102  in two ways. Firstly, raised portion  104  is painted in bright colors such as red and orange while serving portion  103  is painted in white or other neutral colors. Secondly, raised portion  104  is elevated by two slanting ridges  114  along the radii of raised portion  104 . The combination of color contrast and elevated raised portion  104  provides a strong but yet subtle visual impact to user to remind them to consume less, approximately 20% of food intake. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the surface area of top face  102  is also divided into another two portions, viz. inner portion  106  and outer edge portion  105 . As best shown in  FIG. 1A , main inner portion  106  is the inner circle area of top face  102  and outer rim and edge portion  105  is the immediate ring surrounding the main inner portion  106 . While largely a matter of choice for users, in general it is understood that users would load their food mainly within inner portion  106 . 
         [0028]    In alternative embodiments, portion control plate  100  can be in different sizes for different meals such as breakfasts, lunches, snacks, light lunches, etc. Also, in alternative embodiments, portion control plate  100  can be in other basic shapes such as oval, square, rectangle, etc. It will also be understood that in addition to a sector, the raised portion  104  can be a segment, circular, oval, rectangular, section, or any other defined segment or portion of the plate  100 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1B  is a representative isometric view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention showing the bottom face  101 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , bottom face  101  is a slight convex flat structure resembling the bottom of a regular dinner plate. In one embodiment, exactly the same as the top face  102 , bottom face  101  is divided into inside portion  503  which is painted in white or a neutral color, outer edge  505 , and bottom depressed portion  504  which can optionally be painted in a bright or contrasting color. In one embodiment, the locations and sizes of inside portion  503  and depressed portion  504  correspond with top serving portion  106  and top raised portion  104 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 1B , depressed portion  504  appears as a depressed sector with a central angle A which is approximately 72°. As best shown in  FIG. 1B , inner portion  503  and outer edge portion  505  is divided by circular plate foot  110 . In one embodiment, plate foot  110  is a semi-circular ridge that runs along the circumference between bottom inner portion  503  outer portion  505 . Foot  110  does not extend across the depressed portion  504 , leaving the plate  100  intrinsically unstable when fully loaded in the right side up position. The main function of plate foot  110  is to provide support and stabilization to portion control plate  100  when it is placed sight side  102  up but not overloaded. 
         [0030]    As best shown in  FIG. 1B , reminder, encouragement or inspirational marking  108  is painted, stenciled and/or engraved within bottom depressed portion  504 . Examples of effective empowering words includes but not limited to “Control”, “Willpower”, “Restrain”, “Eat Less”, etc. The main purpose of encouragement marking  108  is to provide a subtle reminder and inspiration to users to stay on their dietary plan, when they are preparing or serving themselves food. Although encouragement marking  108  is at the bottom of portion control plate  100 , users will be able to see it when handling portion control plate  100 , or when the plate  100  is overloaded and tips, and the subtlety of its location avoids awkward situations for users in social settings. In alternative embodiments, encouragement marking  108  can be customized graphics, poems, icons etc. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1C  is a representative cross-sectional view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention. As best shown in  FIG. 1C , plate foot  110  is discontinued underneath the raised portion  104  of portion control plate  100 . Thus, when too much food is loaded onto or outside of top inner portion  106 , the entire portion control plate  100  will tilt in direction M. The inclination of portion control plate  100  provides another subtle but strong reminder to users that they have loaded on their plate, and therefore most probably will consume, too much food. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1D  is a representative lower view of portion control plate  100  of the present invention showing the bottom face  101 . When portion control plate  100  is not used, it can be stored upright and upside down, displaying encouragement marking  108 . 
         [0033]    It will be understood that a center of gravity for the portion control plate  100  of the present invention in the loaded with 80% portion, i.e., a controlled portion, keeps the plate  100  resting upon the discontinuous foot portion  110 . However, upon loading food upon the raised portion  104 , the combination of the increased elevation of the food placed on raised portion  104  and lack of foot portion  110  extending immediately below the raised portion  104  results in a shift of the center of gravity, thereby resulting in instability of the plate  100 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2A  is a representative schematic view showing a method of use of portion control plate  100  of the present invention. As best shown in  FIG. 2A , when users load appropriate amount of food onto the portion control plate  100  and mostly within upper inner portion  106 , portion control plate  100  is standing upright despite having no support underneath raised portion  104 . When food is loaded starting from the center  107  of the plate  100 , tipping occurs when a portion greater than 80% of a healthy portion is served. As the food is distributed outwardly starting from the center  107 , the center of gravity will shift and tilt the portion control plate  100  in the direction toward the raised, elevated portion  104  resulting in instability of the plate  100  and shift of center of gravity thereof to somewhere within or underneath the raised portion  104 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2B  is a representative schematic view showing a method of use of portion control plate  100  of the present invention in the tipping mode. As shown, when too much food is loaded on portion control plate  100  until it overflows onto upper outer edge portion  105 , the entire portion control plate  100  will tilted towards raised portion  104  in direction M. The slight tilting of portion control plate  100  serves as a powerful visual reminder to users that too much food has been loaded onto the plate  100 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are representative top isometric view and side view respectively of portion control cup  200  of the present invention. Other than solid food intake, portion control on beverages is also imperative in diet plans since many beverages such as soft drinks, wines, spirits, etc., contain substantial calories. These calories are mainly supplied by sugar, alcohol, juices and other sweetened drinks. The main purpose of portion control cup  200  is to limit beverage intake of users by reducing the volume of a beverage container by approximately 20%. In one embodiment, portion control cup  200  resembles a regular tall drinking cup, with one sector-shaped column  220  removed. As shown in  FIG. 3A , portion control cup  200  has an incomplete or discontinuous circular outer lip or shell  203  which is connected integrally to left plane  206  and right plane  208 , both planes  206  and  208  extending towards and eventually meeting at the center point  250  of the portion control cup  200 . The angle between the two inverted planes  206  and  208  is B, which is approximately 72°. The missing sectional column  220  accounts for approximately 20% volume of a regular drinking cup of similar dimension. 
         [0037]    It will be understood that the portion control can be varied, i.e., portion cups  200  can be designed which reduce the portion by 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, or more or less as desired. furthermore, the shape of the reserved portion  220  can be varied as well, to include shapes such as circular, segmented, or other as desired. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 3C and 3D  are representative right-side and left-side cross-sectional view respectively of portion control cup  200  of the present invention. As best shown in  FIG. 3B , left plane  206  and right plane  208 , collectively provide an area where cup encouragement marking  212  can be painted, stenciled and/or embossed on. In one embodiment, cup encouragement marking  212  can be any standard or customized encouraging and empowering words, verses, poems that motivate users to stay on their diet plans and/or consume more pure water. Examples include but are not limited to “We never know the worth of water till the well is dry—Thomas Fuller”, as best shown in  FIG. 3B . As shown in  FIG. 3D , right plane  206  and left plane meet at an angle B. The shape angle B may make cleaning the inside of portion control cup  200  difficult. In an alternative embodiment, smoother inside contour can be provided in order to facilitate cleaning. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are representative isometric views of portion control dinner and table ware system  300  of the present invention. In one embodiment, portion control dinner and table ware system  300  contains a complete set of portion control cups  200  in various sizes and a plurality of portion control plates  100  in various sizes and shapes. While it is effective to use portion control plates  100  and portion control cups  200  separately, users can use them in conjunction with each other to facilitate compliance with a diet, achievement of body weight objectives, etc. 
         [0040]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications and patent documents referenced in the present invention are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0041]    While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention.