Patent Publication Number: US-10307003-B2

Title: Aerodynamically stabilized food plate

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The following generally relates to a plate and more particularly to a plate configured to support food such as a picnic, dinner, etc. plate, including a wind resistant, aerodynamically stable plate. 
     BACKGROUND 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top down view  100  of a prior art plate  102 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view  200  of the plate  102  along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , the plate  102  rests on a surface  202  such as a table. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the plate  102  includes a circular planar surface  104  having a radius  106 . The planar surface  104  has a top side  108  which is configured to support a food product, and a bottom side  110  which is configured to rest on the surface  202 . The top and bottom sides  108  and  110  are on opposite sides of the plate  102 . 
     The plate  102  further includes a lip  112 . The lip  112  includes a first convex section  114  protruding up and outward from the top side  108  of the planar surface  104  in a direction away from the planar surface  104  and having a first length  116 . The lip  112  further includes a second convex section  118  extending from a free end of the first section  114  and having a second length  120 . The second section  118  slopes downward and away from the planar surface  104 . In other examples, the second convex section  118  extends parallel to the planar surface  104  or is omitted. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view  300  of the plate  102  along line B-B of  FIG. 1  in connection with wind  302 . In this example, the wind  302  flows towards the plate  102  with laminar flow. In  FIG. 4 , a first component  402  of the wind  302  strikes the second convex section  118  of the lip  112 , exerting a first force (F 1 ), which has both a horizontal component (F 1   h ) and a downward vertical component (F 1   v ). A second component  404  of the wind  302  traversing over the lip  112  causes pressure reduction above the lip  112 , which results in a second force or upward vertical force (F 2   v ) on the lip  112 . 
     A third component  406  of the wind  302  strikes the inside of the first convex section  114  under the lip  112 , exerting a third force (F 3 ), which has both a horizontal component (F 3   h ) and an upward vertical component (F 3   v ). The third component  406  of the wind  302 , unlike the first and second components  402  and  404 , is trapped under the lip  112 , which increases a pressure under the lip  112 , causing a fourth force or upward vertical force (F 4   v ). A fifth force includes a static or frictional force (F s ) between the bottom  110  of the plate  102  and the surface  202 . 
     If the sum of the upward vertical forces is greater than the sum of the downward vertical forces, the plate  102  will lift off the surface  103 . Furthermore, if the sum of the horizontal forces is greater than the static force, the plate  102  will slide across the surface  103  in the direction of the wind  302 . As such, the plate  102  may only slide or only lift, or the plate  102  may concurrently slide and lift, depending on the forces. Unfortunately, such forces may result in plate  102  “flying” away and/or inadvertent expulsion of any food that was supported on the plate  102 , e.g., due to the plate tipping, flipping, sliding, etc. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the application address the above matters, and others. 
     In one aspect, a plate for supporting a food product comprises a planar central region with a perimeter and a lip. The lip includes a first section with two ends. A first of the two ends of the first section extends from the perimeter up and away from the planar central region. The lip further includes a second section with two ends. A first of the two ends of the second section extends from a second of the two ends of the first section down and away from the planar central region. 
     In another aspect, a picnic plate comprises a circular region configured to support a food product. The picnic plate further comprises a mid-region protruding from an outer edge of the circular region in a first direction away from the circular region, wherein the mid-region includes a plurality of openings. The picnic plate further comprises an end-region protruding from an outer edge of the mid-region in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction and away from the circular region, wherein the end-region includes the plurality of openings, and both of the walls includes openings. 
     In another aspect, a plate comprises a first area and a rim surrounding the first area, wherein the rim has opposing walls which intersect, and each of the walls is either straight or concave, and both of the walls includes openings 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of the present application upon reading and understanding the attached description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a top down view of a prior art food plate; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the prior art food plate of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates another cross-sectional view of the prior art food plate of  FIG. 1  in connection with laminar flowing wind; 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates effects of the wind on the prior art food plate of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a top down view of an example food plate with a first shaped lip; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the food plate of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates another cross-sectional view of the food plate of  FIG. 5  in connection with laminar flowing wind; 
         FIG. 8  schematically illustrates effects of the wind on the food plate of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates effects of wind on another example food plate; 
         FIG. 10  schematically illustrates a top down view of yet another example food plate with a lip with material free regions; 
         FIG. 11  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the food plate of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  schematically illustrates another cross-sectional view of the food plate of  FIG. 10  in connection with laminar flowing wind; 
         FIG. 13  schematically illustrates effects of the wind on the food plate of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  schematically illustrates effects of the wind on a variation of the food plate of  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIGS. 15-32  show a non-limiting set of combinations of the configurations described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top down view  500  of an example plate  502 , and  FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view  600  of the plate  502  along line A-A of  FIG. 5 . 
     The plate  502  comprises Styrofoam®, plastic, paper pulp, cardboard, and/or other known material. The plate  502  is configured to support at least food and can be used outdoors (e.g., for picnics, barbeques, parties, etc.) and/or indoors. In either of these instances, the plate  502  is susceptible to receive wind. For example, at an outdoor picnic, the plate  502  is susceptible to receive wind whether resting on a table, the ground, a chair, a person&#39;s lap, etc. In another example, the plate  502  may be susceptible to receive wind from an open window, a fan, a breeze created from someone walking by, etc. 
     The illustrated plate  502  is circular. In another embodiment, the plate  502  is elliptical, square, rectangular, irregular and/or other shape. The plate  502  includes a generally planar surface  506  with a radius  508  and a perimeter  509 . In another embodiment, the surface  506  is concave, convex, sloped, irregular, etc. Furthermore, the illustrated planar surface  506  is configured as a single compartment. In another embodiment, the planar surface  506  is divided up into two or more compartments, e.g., separated by ridges, walls, protrusions, etc. The planar surface  506  has a first or top side  510  which is configured to support a food product, etc., and a second or bottom side  512  which is configured to rest on the surface  602 . The first and second sides  510  and  512  are on opposite sides of the plate  502 . 
     The plate  502  further includes a rim or lip  514 . The lip  514  includes a first linear section (or mid-region, wall, etc.)  516  with a length  518  and protruding up and outward from the first side  510  of the planar surface  506  in a direction away from the planar surface  506 . The first linear section  516  surrounds the planar surface  506 . The lip  514  further includes a second linear section  520  (or end-region, wall, etc.) with a length  522  and extending from the first section  516 . The second section  520  slopes downward and away from the planar surface  506 . The second section  520  surrounds the first linear section  516 . The first and second linear sections  516  and  520  are symmetric about a line  524  bisecting an intersection  526  of the first and second linear sections  516  and  520 , forming a carrot or inverse “v” shape (“A”) with an apex  530 . 
     A leading outer edge  528  of the second linear section  520  is in the plane of (co-planar with) the opposing side  512  of the planar surface  506  and rests on a surface  602  along with the opposing side  512  of the planar surface  506 . With this configuration, generally, there is little to no gap between the leading outer edge  528  and the surface  602 . This reduces or mitigates wind from entering under the lip  514  and exerting forces therein and creating pressures therein. In a variation, the leading outer edge  528  of the second linear section  520  is not in the plane of the opposing side  512  of the planar surface  506 , but in a different plane, and either rests on the surface  602  (e.g.,  522 &gt; 518 ) or does not rest on the surface  602  (e.g.,  522 &lt; 518 ). 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view  700  of the plate  502  along a line B-B of  FIG. 6  in connection with wind  702 . In this example, the wind  702  is laminar flowing wind that flows towards the plate  502 . In  FIG. 8 , a first component  802  of the wind  702  strikes the second linear section  520  on the upward linear slope, exerting a force (F 1 ), which has both a horizontal component (F 1   h ) and a downward vertical component (F 1   v ). Wind traversing the apex  530  results in turbulent flow  804 . The turbulent flow  804  breaks or disrupts the upward vertical lift force created by laminar flow over the apex  530 . 
     With this embodiment, the configuration of the lip  514  described herein reduces overall upward vertical lift forces. For example, the carrot shaped apex  530  reduces the upward vertical lift force above the lip  514 , e.g., it breaks smooth laminar flow to minimize wind induced lift from air travelling over the top. This allows the plate  502  to maintain its location on the surface  602  and not lift from the surface  602  under wind conditions which would otherwise lift a plate, such as the plate  102 , which did not produce the turbulent flow  804  to reduce the upward vertical lift force above the lip  514 . In addition, the leading edge  528  touching the surface  602  further reduces upward vertical forces (F 4   v )  806  under the lip  514  due to pressure build up. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a variation of the plate  502  in  FIG. 8  in which the first and second linear sections  516  and  520  are first and second concave sections  902  and  904 . Similar to  FIG. 8 , the configuration of the lip  514  reduces upward vertical lift forces at least at the apex  530  and, where the leading edge  528  extends to the surface  602  (as shown) also under the lip  514 . 
     With respect to  FIGS. 5-9 , generally, the outermost sections ( 516 ,  520 ,  902 ,  904 ) of the plate  502  are structurally configured to improve stability of the plate  5020  in windy conditions. Where the outermost downward sloping section extends such that it is co-planar with the planar surface  506 , the plate  502  maximizes downward vertical wind induced forces on the plate  502  while at the same time blocking wind from the outermost upward sloping section, which reduces what would have been an upward vertical force component. The outermost sections can be either linear and/or concave, which minimizes laminar flow of wind across the top surface further reducing the lift effect of air traveling over the top of the surface. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a variation of the configuration of the plate  502  in  FIG. 5  in which parts  1000  of the first and second linear sections  516  and  520  of the lip  514  include a plurality of material free regions  1002  (e.g., holes, openings, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of material free regions  1002  are located about the apex  530 , extend down at least a sub-portion of each of the first and second linear sections  516  and  520 , and are separated by regions  1004  of the first and second linear sections  516  and  520 . 
     The illustrated plurality of material free regions  1002  are circular and have a same diameter  1006 . In a variation, at least two of the plurality of material free regions  1002  have a different diameter. In another variation, at least one of the plurality of material free regions  1002  is otherwise shaped, such as elliptical, square, rectangular, etc. The number of the plurality of material free regions  1002  in the illustrated embodiment is not limiting, and other embodiments can have more or less material free regions  1002 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view  1100  of the plate  502  along line A-A of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 11  is substantially similar to  FIG. 6  except that  FIG. 11  further shows material free regions  1002  in front of the apexes  530 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view  1200  of a region  1008  ( FIG. 10 ) of the plate  502  in connection with laminar flowing wind  1202 . 
     In  FIG. 13 , a wind component  1302  over the material free region  1002  changes a pressure over the lip  514 , and the pressure gradient between the region over the lip  514  and the region under the lip  514  causes air in the cavity under the lip  514  to egress out of the material free region  1002 . This reduces the pressure under the lip  514 , which creates an additional downward vertical force  1304 , which counteracts upwards vertical forces  408  ( FIG. 4 ) and  806  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) created due to the pressure.  FIG. 15  shows a variation of the configuration of  FIG. 13  in which the lip  514  includes the concave sections  902  and  904  described in  FIG. 9 . 
     The configuration of the lip  514  in  FIGS. 13 and 14  further reduces overall upward vertical lift forces. Again, this allows the plate  502  to maintain its location on the surface  602  and not lift from the surface  602  under wind conditions which would otherwise lift a plate, such as the plate  102 , which does not include the material free regions  1002  through which air is drawn out from under the lip  514  to create an additional downward vertical lift force under the lip  514 . 
       FIGS. 15-32  show a non-limiting set of combinations of the configurations described herein. This includes combinations with at least one side which is linear or concave, with or without the leading edge being co-planar with the surface  506 , these combinations with the material free regions  1002 , and prior art implementations improved non-obviously with the material free regions  1002 . This set does not cover all possible permutations, and the skilled artisan would understand, based on the description herein, other configurations. 
     The application has been described with reference to various embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations, including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.