Patent Publication Number: US-9427100-B1

Title: Multipurpose plate

Description:
This application is a non-provisional application of and claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/833,570 filed Jun. 11, 2013 and also claims priority to Design patent application no. 29/458,818 filed Jun. 24, 2013, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to plates, and in particular, to multi-purpose eating plates and methods of using the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A number of plates for holding food exist in the market. Plates are generally of a rigid material and hold food at the center thereof. However, when an end user is holding a plate with food on it, as well as holding other eating related items, such as, a beverage, fork, knife, spoon, napkin, etc., it is very difficult and burdensome to hold all such items while simultaneously eating the food off the plate. In most instances, the end user cannot hold all such items, and may need to rest his beverage on a table, or even place his napkin in his pocket. When an end user holds several items in his hand, including a plate, the end user may lose grip of such items resulting in one or more of the items being dropped and/or even the plate or a drinking vessel being dropped. 
     Accordingly, a need exists in the art for plates that allow an end user to easily and efficiently eat food off the plate while also holding one or more other eating related objects in his hand(s). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose plate that includes a rigid bottom layer having regions for holding food, a first hand receiving portion for holding the plate, an opening for holding a drinking vessel, a gap for holding an eating related item, and a recessed receiving portion on a surface of the rigid bottom layer for receiving a container. The container may be a cup, can, bowl, dish, glass, mug, tray or a paper receptacle. The eating related item may be a fork, knife, spoon, napkin, toothpick or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments the plate may also include a raised retaining structure for holding the container within the recessed receiving portion. 
     In other aspects, the plate is also directed to other multipurpose plates. These multipurpose plates include a rigid bottom layer having regions for holding food, and first and second tiered hand receiving portions for right-hand or left-hand holding the plate. The plates may also include a thumb receiving portion adjacent the first and second tiered hand receiving portions for resting a user&#39;s thumb, a first object holding portion for holding an eating related item, and a second object holding portion having a slit for holding another eating related item. The plates may further include recessed receiving portion on a surface of the rigid bottom layer for receiving a container. 
     In still other embodiments, the invention is directed to methods of using a multipurpose plate. The plates may include a rigid bottom layer having regions for holding food, first and second tiered hand receiving portions, a thumb receiving portion adjacent the first and second tiered hand receiving portions, first and second object holding portions, the second object holding portion having a slit therein, and a recessed receiving portion on a surface of the rigid bottom layer for receiving a container. A user&#39;s hand holds the plate at the first or second tiered hand receiving portions whereby the user&#39;s thumb rests in the thumb receiving portion. The user inserts a beverage vessel into the first object holding portion, and the first object holding portion holding such beverage vessel therein. The user also inserts one or more eating related items into the slit of the second object holding portion, and the second object holding portion holding such one or more eating related items therein. In use, the first and second object holding portions allow the user to securely eat food off the plate while the beverage vessel and the one or more eating related items are held by the plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a multipurpose plate in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the multipurpose plate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the multipurpose plate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the multipurpose plate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the multipurpose plate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top side view of the multipurpose plate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom side view of the multipurpose plate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of another multipurpose plate in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of still another multipurpose plate in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows the multipurpose plates of the invention in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to  FIGS. 1-10  of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention. 
     The present invention is directed to multipurpose plates that allow an end user to easily hold the plate in one hand, and allow the other hand to remain substantially free for use to eat food off the plate. This other hand is allowed to hold a utensil for eating or simply used alone to eat food off the plate using the user&#39;s fingers. The plates of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-10  have various recessed portions or impressions for holding a food item in combination with other object receiving portions that allow the end user to easily hold other objects while eating food off the plate. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a multipurpose plate is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The multipurpose plate  100  includes a front surface as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , and a back surface as shown in  FIG. 3 . In one or more embodiments, the plate  100  is comprised of a rigid material that provides the plate with strength. These rigid materials may include, but are not limited to, ceramic, glass, china, porcelain, stoneware, plastic, metal, wood, cardboard, thick paper pulp, paper, foam materials, organic materials, and the like. It should be appreciated that the plates  100  of the invention may have any shape and size, and may include several variations of components of the invention as described herein. For ease of understanding the invention, and not meant to limit the invention in any manner, the plate in  FIGS. 1-10  is shown and described as a plate shaped as a crab. 
     In accordance with the different embodiments, the plates  100  may include any number of recessed portions or impressions, such as recessed portions  10 ,  12  and  14 , for holding and retaining one or more food items for consumption. The food retaining recessed portions may extend across the plane of the plate  100  and may extend a depth substantially equivalent to a thickness  8  of the plate  100 . 
     The plates  100  of the invention may also include one or more multipurpose recessed portion  20  that has a shape and depth capable of holding various different components. The recessed portion  20  has a bottom planar surface  24  and sidewalls  22 , and may reside at any location across the surface of the plate  100 . In one or more embodiments the recessed portion  20  may be suitable for holding and retaining dip, condiment(s), sauces, puddings, ice cream and any other liquidous and/or semi-liquidous food products or materials. In certain embodiments the recessed portion  20  has sidewalls  22  of a sufficient height, thickness and rigidity to holding and retain a beverage container such as, for instance, a cup, can, bottle, mug, glass, stemmed glass (e.g., a wine glass), bowl, dish, tray and paper receptacle, and the like. As shown in the side view left, right, top and bottom views of  FIGS. 4-7 , respectively, the recessed portion  20  may reside a predetermined distance above the top planar surface area  5  of the plate  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a raised retaining structure  70  may be used in combination with the plate  100 . The retaining structure  70  may be an insert that fits snugly into the recessed portion  20  to help secure the beverage container on top of the plate  100 . The retaining structure  70  may have any design and preferably has a lower portion shape and size that allows the insert retaining structure  70  to be secured within the recessed portion  20 . 
     For instance, in those embodiments wherein the sidewalls  22  and planar bottom surface  23  are in circular or dish-like shapes, then the bottom of the retaining structure  70  likewise has sidewalls  74  and a bottom surface  76  each in a shape and size corresponding to the mating surface of the sidewalls  22  and bottom surface  23 , respectively (i.e., in circular or dish-like shapes). In this manner, the retaining structure  70  may be secured within the recessed portion  20 . In certain embodiments, the sidewalls  22  and outer surface area of sidewalls  74  (i.e. the outside surface area of the bottom portion of the retaining structure  70 ) may have interlocking surface areas that allow the retaining structure  70  to be affixed to and within the recessed portion  20 . For instance, the sidewalls  22  inside recessed portion  20  may have ridges, circumferential ribs, grooves, bevels, and the like that mate and interlock with counterpart ridges, circumferential ribs, grooves, bevels, and the like on the outside surface area of the retaining structure  70  sidewalls  22 . This may allow the retaining structure  70  and recessed portion  20  to be securely affixed and adjoined to one another via a snap fit, twist fit, locking action, friction fit, etc. so that the retaining structure  70  can not be easily removed from the recessed portion  20 . 
     The raised retaining structure  70  may further include one or more raised portions  72  that surround and extend upwardly from the sidewalls  74 . In certain embodiments the raised portions  72  may be a single raised structure that comprises the sidewalls  74  itself rising up from the planar surface area  5  of the plate  100 . In other embodiments the raised portions  72  comprise a number of separate raised portions  72  extending upwardly from both the sidewalls  74  and the surface area  5  of the plate  100 . Again, while not meant to limit the invention, as shown in the drawings wherein the plate is in the shape of a crab plate, the retaining structure  70  with its raised portions  72  may be in the shape of a crown that is capable of being removably inserted into the recessed portion  20  near the center of the crab plate. The one or more raised portion(s)  72  help to hold and secure the beverage container into the recessed portion  20  and on top of the plate  100 . 
     In accordance with the various embodiments of the invention, the recessed receiving portion  20  provides the end user with more hands-free room on the plate. The raised retaining structure  70  may be removable or permanently attached to the plate. Further, the raised retaining structure  70  may fit inside the recessed receiving portion  20  as described above, or alternatively, it may fit above the plate and around that part of the recessed portion  20  that extends above the plate surface  5 . Still further, in other embodiments, wherein the raised retaining structure  70  resides and fits inside the recessed portion  20 , such raised retaining structure  70  may have a lip portion that extends over and locks onto that portion of the recessed portion  20  that extends above the plate surface  5 . This lip portion of the retaining structure helps to lock and secure the retaining structure  70  to the recessed portion  20  of the plate  100 . 
     Referring to the drawings, the plates  100  of the invention also include one or more sets of tiered levels  30   a - d  or plate holding portions that extend outward from a circumference or perimeter of the plate  100 . These tiered levels  30   a - d  are composed of the plate material and help the end user hold the plate  100 . In one or more embodiments, the plate(s)  100  may include numerous sets of tiered levels  30   a - d  around the outside perimeter of the plate. For instance, as shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , the plate  100  may be provided with a set of tiered levels  30   a - d  on the left side of the plate, and another set of tiered levels  30   a - d  on the right side of the plate. This allows either a left-handed user or a right-handed user to easily hold and utilize the plates  100  of the invention. As shown in FIGS.  4 - 7 , the tiered levels  30   a - d  may extend down from a top surface  5  of the plate to a portion of a distance of the thickness  8  of the plate  100 . Alternatively, the tiered levels  30   a - d  may extend along the full distance of the plate thickness  8 , or even to a length greater than the plate thickness. While the drawings are shown with 4 (four) tiered levels, it should be appreciated that the plate  100  may have any number of tiered levels. 
     Adjacent these one or more tiered levels  30   a - d , the plate may further include an indented portion  18  that allows the end user to rest his thumb therein, and even more securely grip and hold the plate. That is, the end user utilizes his fingers to hold the tiered levels  30   a - d  while the end user&#39;s thumb rests in the indented portion(s)  18  of the plate. The plate  100  may have one or more of these indented portions  18 . The combination of the tiered levels  30   a - d  in conjunction with the indented portion  18  allows the end user to obtain a tight grip on the plate  100  for easily and strongly hold the plate. An end user may even use the indented portion(s)  18  to hold one or more unused eating utensil (e.g., fork, knife, spoon, etc.), or even condiments (e.g., salt, pepper, mustard, ketchup, dip, sauce, etc.) 
     The plates of the invention are also provided with one or more object holding portions that reside at or near the perimeter or outside portion of the plate. In one or more embodiments, the plates  100  include a first object holding portion  40  that may receive a beverage container such as, for example, a can, glass, stemmed glass (e.g., wine glass), and the like. In one of the preferred embodiments the first object holding portion  40  includes a first outwardly extending portion  44  that resides along a portion of the perimeter of the plate  100 . A second outwardly extending portion  42  protrudes out from the first portion  44  and bends in a path substantially along the path of the first portion  44 . Together the first and second portions  44 ,  42  comprise a single object holding device of the plate and form an opening  46  there between to hold such object. For instance, the stem of a stemmed wine glass may be inserted into the opening  46  until it reaches inner curve  48  such that the stem rests at the inner curve  48  and the glass portion rests on top surfaces of the first and second bent portions  42 ,  44  of the object holding portion  40  of plate  100 . 
     Plates  100  of the invention may also include a second object holding portion  50  for receiving and holding one or more other food, drink and/or eating related object(s). This second object holding portion  50  may be part of the plate, within the plate circumference or an extension of the plate circumference. While not meant to limit the invention, the drawings show the second object holding portion  50  as an extension to the plate circumference. In one or more embodiments the second object holding portion  50  of plate  100  may include a first outwardly extending portion  54  and a second outwardly extending portion  52 , with a slight opening, gap or slit  56  residing between these first and second portions  54 ,  52 . The first outwardly extending portion  54  resides along a portion of the perimeter of the plate, while the second outwardly extending portion  52  protrudes out from the first portion  54  and bends in a path substantially along the path of the first portion  54 . The second outwardly extending portion  52  is able to move upward or downward for inserting and object therein, and then holding such item within the slit  56 . 
     While not limiting the invention,  FIG. 10  shows a plate  100  in accordance with one or more embodiments in use whereby the plate is in the shape of a crab design with the crown insert  70  forming a king crab plate. The first and second object holding portions  40 ,  50  may be the claws of the crab plate. In use, a cup or stemmed wine glass  90  is inserted in the first claw (i.e., portion  40 ), preferably until it rests at stop  48 , while an eating utensil  92  or napkin  94  or both may be inserted into the slit  56  of the second claw (i.e., portion  50 ). 
     The slit  56  is preferably slightly opened to allow the eating utensil and/or napkin to be inserted therein, whereby the second outwardly extending portion  52  moves upward or downward for inserting the utensil and/or napkin therein. In this manner the end-user is allowed to insert a napkin or utensil (fork, knife, spoon, toothpick, etc. or combinations thereof) within such slight opening, gap or slit  56 . Once the item is inserted into slit  56 , the second object holding portion  50 , or at least the second outwardly extending portion  52  thereof, returns to its initial position so as to retain and hold the item therein. Together, the outwardly extending portions  54 ,  52  hold the eating utensil and/or napkin in position within the slit  56 . The gap and flexibility of the outer portion  52  allows the item (e.g., napkin or utensil) to be easily removed. In use, the end user is allowed to hold plate  100  with one hand and simply eat with the other hand, either with or without a utensil. The object holding portions  40 ,  50  of the plate provide the user with an enhanced, hands-free eating experience since the plate  100  hold glasses, cans, bottles, wine glasses, any known beverage vessel, utensils, napkins, etc. That is, the end user does not need to hold the glass, cup, utensil, napkin, etc. in his hand(s). 
     The plates  100  of the invention may be used as hors d′oeuvre plates having separate molded compartments  10 - 14  for separating food items, as well as having a thumb rest  18  on the surface of the plate for gripping such plate. The plates are also provided with a portion  40  for holding stemware, as well as receptacles  20  that can hold cans or cups (e.g., a canned beverage, or glass (with snap-on  5  star crown)). A retaining structure  70  (e.g., a snap on crown for a crab designed plate) is also provided with the plates of the invention, whereby such retaining structures may be permanently affixed to the plate, or removably attached thereto. The plates may be made to have any shape and size. For instance, while not meant to limit the invention, the plate may be substantially circular with a diameter of approximately 11-12 inches. The plates of the invention also include one or more receiving portions  50  for receiving, retaining and holding a napkin, utensil, fork, knife, spoon, toothpick, etc. or combinations thereof. The various plates of the invention allow an end user to hold the plate in one hand and keep the other hand free to perform another task (e.g., eat, drink, hold an object (e.g., phone, digital device, etc. text, write, etc.). 
     While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.