Patent Publication Number: US-2007095827-A1

Title: Ergonomic plate

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to an ergonomic plate, and more particularly, to an ergonomic plate adapted for carrying in one hand of the user. The invention offers improved balance and stability in the hand. In one embodiment, the invention comprises features intended to help stabilize the plate on supporting surfaces which may not be substantially level. Among these features is an adjustable cup holder designed for holding cups, cans, glasses, and other beverage containers and vessels. The position of the cup holder relative to the plate adjusts vertically when the plate is placed upon and removed from the supporting surface. The invention further comprises a relatively deep hand-receiving indent. This feature allows the plate to be comfortably and securely held in one hand with respective food and beverage placement areas strategically located for ready access by the other, free hand of the user.  
      Prior art plates designed for carrying in one hand are generally cumbersome and unstable, and often require support from an area above the wrist and forearm in order to maintain balance. Such plates with beverage holding areas are further prone to instability and spillage. Generally, in order to place these plates onto a table or other surface, the beverage cup must first be removed from the plate with the free hand. This process is awkward and increases the likelihood of accidents.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which is especially designed for carrying in one hand.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which has improved balance when carried in the hand of the user.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which has improved stability when carried in the hand of the user.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which incorporates strategically located food and beverage placement areas.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which remains substantially stable when placed on an uneven surface.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which is dishwasher and microwave safe.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic plate which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
      These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an ergonomic plate adapted for being held in one hand of a user. The plate comprises a molded plate form having a topside defining a food placement area, and an opposing underside. An inwardly curved hand indent is formed along a peripheral edge of the plate form. A reinforcing fold is formed along the hand indent. The reinforcing fold is adapted for strengthening and stabilizing the molded plate form when the ergonomic plate is carried in the hand of the user.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate form has a generally circular cutout adapted for receiving a beverage container.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate form further defines a plurality of indexing slots formed adjacent an inner peripheral edge of the cutout.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjustable cup holder is adapted for receiving and supporting a beverage container within the cutout. The cup holder has a plurality of longitudinal tracks designed to align and mate with respective indexing slots, such that the cup holder is vertically slidable relative to the plate form.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cup holder further comprises a top annular flange adapted for engaging the plate form to limit downward sliding movement of the cup holder.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the hand indent defines a curvature greater than 1 inch. The curvature is calculated by fitting a circle into the inwardly-curved periphery of the plate form, and then taking the reciprocal of the circle&#39;s radius. The circle radius in this case is less than 1 inch. In a more preferred embodiment, the curvature is greater than 2 inches.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the hand indent extends inwardly to a point less than 2 inches from a longitudinal center line of the plate form.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the food placement area includes first and second divided food compartments.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first food compartment is deeper than the second food compartment.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, an arcuate grip ridges is formed with the underside of the plate form opposite the second food compartment.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the grip ridge extends outwardly from the underside of the plate form to a notional plane adjacent an outside bottom surface of the first food compartment.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate form is asymmetric about a medial axis.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate form defines a stem slot adapted for receiving a stem of a beverage glass.  
      In another embodiment, the invention is an ergonomic plate adapted for being held in one hand of a user. The plate includes a molded plate form having a topside defining a food placement area, and an opposing underside. The plate form defines a generally circular cutout adapted for receiving a beverage container. The plate form further defines a plurality of indexing slots formed adjacent an inner peripheral edge of the cutout. An adjustable cup holder is adapted for receiving and supporting a beverage container within the cutout. The cup holder has a plurality of longitudinal tracks designed to align and mate with respective indexing slots, such that the cup holder is vertically slidable relative to the plate form. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an ergonomic plate according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the plate;  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the plate;  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the plate with the cup holder removed;  
       FIG. 5A  is a side view of the plate when lifted above a supporting surface and showing the cup holder in its lowered condition;  
       FIG. 5B  is a side view of the plate slightly above the supporting surface and showing the cup holder in an intermediate-level condition; and  
       FIG. 5C  is a side view of the plate resting upon the supporting surface and showing the cup holder in a fully adjusted, raised condition. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE  
      Referring now specifically to the drawings, an ergonomic plate according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The ergonomic plate  10  is especially designed for carrying in one hand, and has designated food and beverage holding areas  11  and  12  strategically located to optimize balance and handleability of the plate  10 . According to one embodiment, the ergonomic plate  10  comprises a molded plastic or paper plate form  14  which is uniquely asymmetric about a medial axis  15 . The term “molded” is used broadly herein to mean integrally-formed to a particular shape using any suitable manufacturing means or process.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the plate form  14  has a shaped peripheral edge  16  with an inwardly-curved portion  17  defining a deep medial indent  18  designed to accommodate the hand. Preferably, the indent  18  substantially divides the food and beverage areas  11 ,  12  of the plate  10 , and is less than 2 inches from a longitudinal centerline  19  of the plate form  14 ; and more preferably, less than one inch from the longitudinal centerline  19 . The plate  10  is supported in the hand by placing the web (space between the thumb and index finger) within the indent  18  adjacent the inwardly-curved portion  17  of the plate form  14 . The thumb engages a topside of the plate form  14  along a contoured thumb ridge  21 , while the splayed fingers of the hand engage an underside of the plate form  14  along an arcuate grip ridge  22 . A reinforcing fold  23  extends adjacent the curved portion  17 , and serves to strengthen and stabilize the molded plate form  14  when loaded with food and beverage items. The reinforcing fold  23  enables use of a thinner plate form  14 , and allows a deeper hand indent  18 . The curvature “C” indicated in  FIG. 2  is preferably greater than 2 inches. The depth “D” of the hand indent  18  is calculated by measuring the linear distance from a center point  24  of the curved portion  17  to each of two parallel tangent lines  26  and  27 . The depth “D” is equal to the lesser of these two measurements.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the plate form  14  comprises adjacent recessed food compartments  31 ,  32  formed with the topside, and a number of cutouts  33 ,  34 , and  35  adapted for supporting a wine glass “G”, beverage cup “B”, and eating utensils “U”, respectively. The first food compartment  31  occupies a relatively large surface area, and is relatively shallow. The smaller food compartment  32  is relatively deep, and particularly suited for holding loose or runny foods, sauces, condiments, and the like. For added stability, the grip ridge  22  formed with the underside of the plate form  14  preferably extends outwardly to a point located on a notional plane “P” (See  FIG. 5C ) extending from an outside bottom surface of the deeper food compartment  32 . The cutout  33  communicates with the peripheral edge  16  of the plate form  14 , and is designed to receive a stem of the wine glass “G”. The utensil cutout  34  is designed to receive and hold at least one fork, spoon, and/or knife “U”.  
      The beverage cutout  35 , best shown in  FIG. 4 , comprises a generally circular opening designed to receive and support a removable cup holder  40 , shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , adapted for carrying the beverage cup “B”. The cup holder  40  has three equally-spaced vertical legs  42 A,  42 B, and  42 C depending from an annular top flange  43  and connecting at a vessel-supporting bottom. The bottom comprises three intersecting horizontal legs  44 A,  44 B, and  44 C formed with respective vertical legs  42 A,  42 B, and  42 C. The vertical legs  42 A- 42 C have integrally-formed longitudinal tracks  45 A,  45 B,  45 C adapted for inserting into respective indexing slots  46 A,  46 B, and  46 C ( FIG. 4 ) formed adjacent an inner peripheral edge of the cutout  35 . The leading end of each track  45 A- 45 C is preferably vertically spaced from the bottom to facilitate insertion of the cup holder  40  into the cutout  35 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C, once inserted into the beverage cutout  35 , the cup holder  40  is vertically slidable relative to the plate form  14  to adjust its position as the plate  10  is placed onto and lifted from a supporting surface “S”. This adjustability is an especially useful stabilizing feature when the plate  10  rests on uneven surfaces. The top annular flange  43  is designed to engage the plate form  14  and limit downward sliding movement of the cup holder  40  when positioned as shown in  FIG. 5A . As the plate  10  is set upon the supporting surface “S”, the position of the cup holder  40  gradually adjusts as shown in  FIG. 5B . In this position, the user can grasp an edge of the plate  10  with his free hand and easily remove the plate-supporting hand from within the hand indent  18 . When the plate  10  is finally placed on the supporting surface, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the cup holder  40  extends substantially above the plate form  14  with the plate  10  in a substantially level and stable condition.  
      An ergonomic plate is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the claims.