Patent Publication Number: US-2012031901-A1

Title: Food cover

Description:
This invention concerns food covers, and particularly but not exclusively food covers locatable on a plate to protect food thereon and to permit other such plates to be stacked thereon. 
     Food covers are often used in catering to protect meals once served on a plate. Such covers are particularly used when catering for large numbers where meals are served on plates and then stored, in a warm environment when appropriate, prior to serving. 
     Problems may be encountered with existing food covers. These problems can include a lack of durability of the covers. If metal covers are used a not significant amount of noise can be caused by the covers contacting each other, other items or surfaces. Existing food covers can tend to slip relative to each other, or to plates stacked thereon. This can be a particular problem with plates such as porcelain plates which tend to be stacked by their feet rather than by their rims. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a food cover, the cover including an engagement formation engageable with a plate or other item of ware, a body part configured to extend upwardly in use from the engagement formation to define an area above the plate or other item in which food can be located, with at least part of an upper surface of the body part having increased friction relative to the remainder of the cover, whereby to reduce the likelihood of a further plate located on top of the cover slipping relative thereto. 
     A plate contact part may be provided on top of the body part, which plate contact part may be of a different material relative to the remainder of the cover. 
     The plate contact part may be made of a flexible material which may be rubber or silicone. The flexible material may be food safe, and heat resistant at temperatures at which hot food is stored at. 
     The plate contact part may be bonded to the top of the upper surface of the body part, and may be bonded by an adhesive which is heat resistant at temperatures at which hot food is stored at, and which adhesive may also be detergent proof. 
     The upper surface of the contact part, may be textured to increase friction. An upstanding rim may be provided around the perimeter of the contact part. 
     An upstanding rim may be provided around the perimeter of the upper surface of the body part. 
     The cover aside from the plate contact part, may be made of metal and may be made of stainless steel. Alternatively the cover may be made of a plastics material. 
     An opening may be provided through the body part to permit steam or other vapours to pass therethrough. 
     In one embodiment a surface of the engagement formation may have a rim contact part engageable with the rim of a plate or other item of ware. The rim contact part may be provided on an in use generally downward facing part of the engagement formation. The rim contact part may be as outlined in any of the above paragraphs relating to the plate contact part. 
    
    
     
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view from above of a first food cover according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a similar view to  FIG. 3  of a second cover according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a similar view to  FIG. 3  but of a third cover according to the invention. 
     
    
    
       FIGS. 1-3  show a first food cover  10  suitable for locating on a plate upon which a meal has been served, and permitting a similar such plate to be stacked thereon. The cover  10  is circular in plan view and includes an outer downwardly diverging rim  12  engageable on the outside of a plate. A horizontal flange  14  extends inwardly from the rim  12 . A body part  16  extends inwardly from the flange  14 . The body part  16  includes gently inwardly tapering upstanding side walls  18  with a lid part  20  extending between the side walls  18 . The lid part  20  extends gently downwardly from the connection to the side walls  18 , and a central opening  22  with a rim  24  around its edge is provided through the lid part  20 . 
     A plate contact part  26  is bonded on top of the lid part  20 . The contact part  26  comprises a disc of rubber with a central opening  28  corresponding to the lid part opening  22 . The contact part  26  has a textured upper surface  30  in the form of a plurality of concentric upstanding ribs. 
     The contact part  26  is formed of a rubber which is heat resistant at temperatures to which food can be heated, and is bonded to the lid  20  by an adhesive which is similarly heat resistant. The adhesive is also detergent resistant. The food cover  10  except the contact part  26  is formed of stainless steel. 
     In use, once a meal has been served on a plate, the cover  10  can be located on the plate to provide protection for the meal, and further plates can be stacked on the cover  10 , each with a respective cover  10 . The contact part  26  significantly reduces the prospect of a plate slipping relative to an underlying cover  10 . Furthermore, the contact part  26  acts to deaden sound and reduce noise when stacking and handling plates with such covers on. 
       FIG. 4  shows a further food cover  32  which is similar to the cover  10  except as follows. In this instance a rim contact part  34  is provided on the underside of the flange  14 . The rim contact part  34  may be made of a similar rubber to the contact part  26 . This provides the further advantages of deadening sound relative to the noise of a cover being located on a plate. This also decreases the chance of a food cover  32  slipping relative to a plate on which it is located. 
       FIG. 5  shows a still further cover  40  which is similar to the cover  10  except as follows. With the cover  40  an upstanding rim  42  is provided around the upper perimeter of the lid part  44 . A silicone plate contact part  46  is bonded on top of the lid part  44 . The plate contact part  46  overlies the rim  42  to provide a silicone rim  48 . 
     There are thus described food covers which provide significant advantages. The covers are though of relatively straightforward construction, and can thus be inexpensively manufactured for long term maintenance free in use. 
     Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the covers and/or contact parts may be made of different materials. As an example the main part of the cover may be made of a plastics material. The cover may also be a different shape. The contact part may be provided on only a part of the cover lid. 
     Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.