Patent Publication Number: US-11375831-B2

Title: Propeller food plate assembly for use in dining and recreational activities

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/009,334 filed Jun. 15, 2018, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a propeller food plate assembly having a plate component that includes a plate for holding and consuming food and/or liquid substances during a dining activity, and a propeller component that includes a plurality of propellers connected to a collar, the propeller component being initially in a torque-transmitting relationship with the plate component and being subsequently movable relative to the plate component after the propeller food plate assembly is thrown and spun in the air, for example, during a “throw-and-catch” recreational sports activity among a plurality of people, 
     BACKGROUND 
     Guests fill their plates with food served buffet-style at social functions, and typically either hold their plates in cantilever fashion by gripping peripheral edges of the plates, or balance their plates on their laps, If drinks are also served, the guests typically either hold their drink containers in their other hands, or balance the drink containers on their plates, Due to the difficulty in performing such balancing, and due to the difficulty of supporting the plates and the drink containers without food or liquid spillage, guests often seek out a table or like supporting surface or even the floor, to support their plates and drink containers. Yet, this action tends to anchor guests to a specific location and prevents the guests from roaming and socializing. In a similar vein, customers of take-out or drive-through restaurants, snack bars, concession stands, and like premises, who are served food on plates and drinks in drink containers, often find it difficult to support them all without spillage, especially when leaving and carrying the food and drink away from the premises for subsequent consumption at another location, for example, at their homes, in their vehicles, or in their seats at movies, concerts, sporting events, other recreational activities, etc. 
     After consumption of the food and drink, the known plates are typically discarded. Yet, it would be desirable not to simply throw the plates away in the trash, but to encourage and motivate some sort of physical, preferably outdoor, activity, not only to enhance the happy, fun atmosphere of the social function, but also to fight obesity by having the individuals exert themselves physically, and to physically interact in a fun, recreational, athletic activity, including interaction with pets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the instant disclosure, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a propeller food plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top plan view of a propeller component of the embodiment of the propeller food plate assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the embodiment of the propeller food plate assembly of  FIG. 1  in a locked state. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a broken-away, sectional view of another embodiment analogous to the propeller food plate assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a broken-away, sectional view of still another embodiment analogous to the propeller food plate assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of a propeller food plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure in an unlocked state. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a propeller food plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure in an unlocked state. 
         FIG. 8  is a broken-away, sectional view taken on line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a broken-away, sectional view taken on line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a broken-away, sectional view of the periphery of a modified plate component of the propeller food plate assembly, 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of a plate component on a reduced scale. 
         FIG. 12  is a broken-away, sectional view taken on line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a broken-away, sectional view of the periphery of a modified plate component of the propeller food plate assembly, 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a propeller food plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of a cover for use with a propeller food plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken on line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the cover for use with a modified propeller food plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 18  is a broken-away, sectional view taken on line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and locations of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The components of the propeller food plate assembly have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein, 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with this disclosure, a propeller food plate assembly comprises a plate component that includes a plate having a periphery surrounding an axis, preferably a vertical axis, and a raised central portion centered on, and extending upwardly from the plate along, the vertical axis. In some embodiments, the raised central portion has a plurality of slots, and these embodiments are sometimes referred to hereinafter as “slotted” embodiments. In other embodiments, the raised central portion has no slots, and these embodiments are sometimes referred to hereinafter as “unslotted” embodiments. The slots in the slotted embodiments may extend generally parallel to the vertical axis, or they may be inclined relative to the vertical axis. 
     The propeller food plate assembly also includes a propeller component that includes a collar also centered on the vertical axis and located exteriorly of the central portion with a clearance, and a plurality of ribs or aerodynamically shaped propellers angularly arranged about the vertical axis. In the slotted embodiments, the propellers extend from the slots through the collar towards and past the periphery of the plate to subdivide the plate into a plurality of compartments for holding food during a dining activity. When the propeller component and the plate component are assembled together, the propeller component is mounted on the plate component with the clearance, 
     In a preferred embodiment, the propellers are advantageously locked in position on the plate to resist movement during the dining activity and are unlocked during a different recreational activity. In the slotted embodiments, the propellers have inner ends mounted in the slots with a clearance. The inner ends are movable along the slots after the propellers are unlocked during the recreational activity. 
     At a beginning or initial stage of the recreational activity or flight, the propeller food plate assembly is initially thrown and spun, i.e., rotated, in the air by a user. As described below, the propeller component and the plate component initially engage each other in a torque-transmitting relationship during their joint rotation about the vertical axis during such flight and, together with the propellers that have contoured, aerodynamic surfaces, cause the assembly to further spin and rotate about the vertical axis with an enhanced aerodynamic flight characteristic, which is a flight pattern determined and controlled, at least in part, by the aerodynamic surfaces of the specific propellers that are used. At a subsequent stage of the flight, the propeller component, i.e., the propellers and the collar together, moves relative to the central portion away from the plate component. Thus, the propeller component is movable relative to, and may be detachable from, the plate component. 
     In the slotted embodiments, each of the central portion and the collar preferably has a cylindrical shape. In the unslotted embodiments, each of the central portion and the collar preferably has a polygonal shape. The collar may be constituted of a single part, or of a plurality of collar segments. The collar segments are not only easy to assemble with each other, but are also easy to assemble with the central portion, The propellers may be interchangeably and detachably mounted on the collar to enhance the aerodynamic flight characteristics or flight pattern, The propellers and the collar may also be molded of one-piece construction. 
     In the slotted embodiments, the slots may be linear and equiangularly arranged about the vertical axis on the central portion. The slots may be upwardly closed at an upper region of the central portion to confine the inner ends of the propellers in the upwardly closed slots during the recreational activity, or the slots may be upwardly open at an upper region of the central portion to enable the inner ends of the propellers to escape the upwardly open slots during the recreational activity, Both the upwardly open slots and the upwardly closed slots may be provided in the same embodiment of the propeller food plate assembly. The upwardly open slots and the upwardly closed slots may, in some embodiments, extend radially all the through the central portion, or, in other embodiments, the upwardly open slots and the upwardly closed slots may extend only partially through the central portion and, in effect, form radially outwardly open cavities on an outer surface of the central portion. 
     The inner ends of the propellers may be advantageously configured as linear pins that extend along pin axes extending radially of the axis&lt;The propellers and the collar are preferably constituted of flexible, resilient materials. During assembly, when the upwardly closed slots are used, the propeller component is initially placed above the plate component, and the upper end region of the central portion may advantageously be formed with an angled, annular, tapered guide along which the linear pins slide for easy assembly. The propeller component may be slightly tilted relative thereto in order to insert at least one of the linear pins in a corresponding upwardly closed slot. Thereupon, the resilient collar is forced with a pressure force downwardly over the central portion towards a bottom of the plate, and the remaining linear pins press against the central portion to cause the resilient collar to flex radially outwardly as the resilient collar approaches the bottom of the plate until the remaining linear pins enter, and are mounted with clearance in, the remaining upwardly closed slots. 
     For easy assembly when the upwardly open slots are used, the propeller component is also initially placed above the plate component. When the linear pins are angularly aligned with the upwardly open slots, the propeller component is moved downwardly toward the plate component, and the linear pins freely enter the upwardly open slots, thereby completing the assembly. 
     The resilient propellers may also be flexed, bent and angularly offset from the pin axes, thereby tensioning the propellers prior to locking the propellers in position on the plate. The periphery of the plate preferably bas a plurality of slits, and the tensioned propellers have outer ends that are pushed with pressure into, received in, and tightly held in, the slits in order to lock the tensioned propellers in position on the plate during the dining activity, 
     In addition, the plate may optionally have a holder, preferably cylindrical in shape, for holding a cup for containing a liquid substance, such as a beverage, and the holder is preferably centered on the axis and is located within the central portion with a clearance, which is preferably annular. The plate may also have a finger hole in its center and located within the holder, This enables a user to insert a finger, e.g., a thumb, through the finger hole and to bold and support the propeller food plate assembly during the dining activity adjacent a center of gravity of the propeller food plate assembly, 
     The inserted finger is completely isolated from the food, thereby enhancing hygienic and sanitary dining. The holder has a solid surface that prevents the inserted finger from entering in the annular clearance between the holder and the center portion and from potentially coming into inadvertent contact with any food that may have entered the annular clearance from the food compartments. The annular clearance can also serve to collect any liquid that may have spilled from the cup in the bolder, and the solid surface of the holder again serves to prevent and isolate the inserted finger from potentially coming into inadvertent contact with any such spilled liquid that may have collected in the annular clearance. The annular clearance can also serve as a convenient ashtray. Only one of the user&#39;s hands is needed to support the propeller food plate assembly during the dining activity. 
     Only a single propeller component is used during the dining activity. In another modification used in a recreational activity, a plurality of the aforementioned propeller components, each comprising a respective plurality of the propellers and a respective collar, may be stacked or combined in levels or tiers, one directly above, and aligned with, one another, on the plate along the vertical axis. All the directly stacked, combined propeller components may be considered as acting as a single propeller component, and the propellers of each additional propeller component increase the total aerodynamic surface area, as compared to that of a single propeller component, to enhance the aerodynamic flight characteristic of the assembly. In a variation, the plurality of the aforementioned stacked propeller components may be angularly offset from each other about the vertical axis. Each additional propeller component increases the number of propellers for the propeller food plate assembly to enhance its aerodynamic flight characteristic and its flying performance. During the subsequent stage of the flight, this enables one, or more, or all, of the propeller components to move along the slots in the slotted embodiments. When the slots are upwardly open, then one, or more, or all, of the propeller components may escape and fly away or glide from the plate component, one by one, due to inertia during the recreational activity. 
     For the slotted embodiments, the inner ends of the propellers are positioned in the slots so that the plate component and the propeller component physically engage each other and initially jointly rotate in a torque-transmitting relationship at least until these components subsequently separate from each other during the recreational activity. For the unslotted embodiments, wherein there are no slots for the inner ends of the propellers to be inserted, the physical engagement between a polygonal central portion of the plate component and a surrounding polygonal collar of the propeller component enables their initial joint rotation in a torque-transmitting relationship at least until these components subsequently separate from each other during the recreational activity. 
     One or more light sources, such as chemiluminescent glow sticks, may be mounted on, and extend along, an upper surface of at least one of the collars of the propeller components, and/or on, and along, the periphery of the plate component, and/or at the underside of the plate component, to create an attractive and ornamental light display not only during the recreational activity, but also during the dining activity, especially at night. Alternately, a light-transmissive cover may be mounted on a bottom surface of the plate component, and a battery-operated light source and/or a camera may be mounted between the cover and the plate component. The camera may capture and record images, and/or transmit captured images via wireless link, e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc., to a receiver or display, for example, on one&#39;s smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. The battery may be mounted on the cover, or may be supplied by an overhead support that is mounted, preferably by snap action, to a central neck that extends downwardly from the aforementioned finger hole at the center of the plate component. Advantageously, the cover presses the battery and/or camera to help secure them in place. The light sources may emit light of different colors that are characteristic of different holidays, such as red, white and blue in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday, or of different colors on flags of various countries in celebration of their national holidays, or of different colors of various sports teams, etc. 
     Turning now to the slotted embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a portable, multiple use, propeller food plate assembly comprises two components. The first or plate component includes a plate  10  having a generally circular periphery  12  surrounding an upright or vertical axis  14 , and a raised central portion  16  centered on, and extending upwardly from the plate  10  along, the vertical axis  14 . The central portion  16  has a plurality of closed slots  18  and/or a plurality of open slots  20 . As shown, each slot  18  and  20  extends generally parallel to the vertical axis  14 . It will be understood that each slot  18  and  20  may also be inclined relative to the vertical axis  14 . The raised central portion  16  is preferably integral with the plate  10 . Each slot  20  is upwardly open and exposed at an upper region of the central portion  16 , and each slot  18  is upwardly closed because it is not open or exposed at the upper region of the central portion  16 . 
     In this slotted embodiment, each slot  18  and  20  also extends radially all the through the central portion  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). The central portion  16  may have any shape, preferably cylindrical as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the slots  18  and  20  are preferably linear and equiangularly arranged about the vertical axis  14  on the central portion  16 . The central portion  16  may be provided with a set of only the upwardly closed slots  18 , or a set of only the upwardly open slots  20 , or may be provided with both types and sets of slots  18  and  20 , as shown. The plate  10  may be made of a disposable, biodegradable material, such as paper or cardboard, or of a more permanent material, such as metal, plastic, etc., for re-use. 
     The second or propeller component of the propeller food plate assembly includes a collar  22  centered on the vertical axis  14  and located exteriorly of the central portion  16 . The collar  22  may have any shape, preferably cylindrical or ring-shaped as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , the collar  22  circumferentially closely surrounds the central portion  16  and bounds an annular space  40  or clearance therewith. The propeller component also has a plurality of ribs or aerodynamically shaped propellers  24  angularly arranged about the vertical axis  14  and extending from the slots  18  or  20  through the collar  22  towards and past the periphery  12  of the plate  10  to subdivide the plate  10  into a plurality of compartments  26  for holding food during a dining activity. The food may comprise any edible substance. The propellers  24  and the collar  22  are preferably constituted of flexible, resilient materials. 
     Prior to assembly, the propeller component and the plate component are separate components.  FIG. 1A  depicts the propeller component by itself. The collar  22  may be constituted of one part as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be constituted of a plurality of collar segments  23 ,  25 ,  27  that are interconnected as one piece, as shown in  FIG. 1A . The collar segments  23 ,  25 ,  27  are not only easy to assemble with each other, but are also easy to assemble with the central portion  16 , as described below. The collar  22  and the propellers  24  may also be molded of a one-piece construction. The propellers  24  have inner ends that may be configured as linear cylindrical pins  32 . As shown in FIG. IA, the pins  32  extend through the collar  22  along pin axes  34  extending radially of the vertical axis  14 . 
     During assembly, when the upwardly closed slots  18  are used, the propeller component is initially placed above the plate component, and may be slightly tilted relative thereto in order to insert at least one of the linear pins  32  in a in a corresponding upwardly closed slot  18 . Thereupon, the resilient collar  22  is forced with a pressure force downwardly over the central portion  16  towards a bottom of the plate  10 , and the remaining linear pins  32  press against the central portion  16  to cause the resilient collar  22  to flex radially outwardly as the resilient collar approaches the bottom of the plate  10  until the remaining linear pins  32  enter, and are mounted with clearance in, the remaining upwardly dosed slots  18 . As described below in connection with  FIG. 5 , the upper end region of the central portion  16  may advantageously be formed with an angled, annular, tapered guide  36  along which the linear pins  32  initially slide for easy assembly. 
     In the case where the collar  22  is constituted of the plurality of collar segments  23 ,  25 ,  27 , then each collar part, as shown in  FIG. 1A , has its own propeller  24  with its own linear pin  32 . Each such linear pin  32  may be inserted into a respective upwardly closed slot  18  until all the collar segments  23 ,  25 ,  27  are assembled, one by one, around the central portion  16 , and are interconnected with each other as one piece. Thus, this simplifies the overall assembly of the collar  22  with the central portion  16 , and the aforementioned pressure force is not exerted. In the event that the upwardly open slots  20  are used with the plurality of collar segments  23 ,  25 ,  27 , then the collar segments should advantageously be connected together, for example, with snaps, to be of a one-piece construction, 
     When the upwardly open slots  20  are used, the propeller component is also initially placed above the plate component. When the linear pins  32  are angularly aligned with the upwardly open slots  20 , the propeller component is moved towards the plate component, and the linear pins  32  freely enter the upwardly open slots  20 , thereby completing the assembly.  FIG. 1  depicts the propeller food plate assembly, as finally assembled. 
     Although three propellers  24 , three compartments  26 , three upwardly dosed slots  18 , and three upwardly open slots  20  have been illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , a different number of the propellers  24 , a different number of the compartments  2 . 6 , a different number of the upwardly dosed slots  18 , and a different number of the upwardly open slots  20  are also within the scope of this disclosure. As mentioned above, the collar  22  and the central portion  16  may each have any shape, preferably cylindrical, and any single embodiment may have only the upwardly open slots  20 , or only upwardly closed slots  18 , or any desired combination of the upwardly closed slots  18  and the upwardly open slots  20 . 
     The plate  10  may also optionally have a holder  28 , preferably generally cylindrical in shape, for holding a cup for containing a liquid substance. The liquid substance can, for example, be water, or any beverage, either hot or cold, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Examples of beverages include, but are not limited to, soda, cocktails, champagne, juice, milk, milkshakes, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. The liquid substance can also be any semi-liquid or semi-solid substance, such as soup, ice cream, yogurt, custard, sherbet, ices, etc. The holder  28  is centered on the axis  14  and is located within the central portion  16  and bounds the aforementioned clearance  40  therewith whose function is described below. The clearance  40  preferably has an annular shape. 
     The plate  10  advantageously also has a finger hole  30  in its center. The finger hole  30  extends entirely through the plate  10  to enable a user to insert a finger, preferably the thumb, through the finger hole  30  and to hold and support the plate  10  during the dining activity adjacent a center of gravity of the propeller food plate assembly. The inserted finger is completely isolated from the food substances in the compartments  26 , thereby enhancing hygienic and sanitary eating. 
     The holder  28  has a solid surface that prevents the inserted finger from entering in the clearance  40  between the holder  28  and the central portion  16  and from potentially coming into inadvertent contact with any food that may have entered the clearance  40  from the food compartments  26 . The clearance  40  can also serve to collect any liquid that may have spilled from the cup in the holder  28 , and the solid surface of the holder  28  again serves to prevent and isolate the inserted finger from potentially coming into inadvertent contact with any such spilled liquid that may have collected in the clearance  40 . The clearance  40  can also serve as a convenient ashtray. Only one of the user&#39;s hands is needed to support the plate  10  and the liquid-filled cup during the dining activity. 
     As described so far, during an eating and/or drinking or analogous dining activity, the plate  10  can hold food substances in the compartments  26  and can optionally hold a liquid substance in a cup mounted in the holder  28 . As described below, the propellers  24  are advantageously held tightly against the plate  10  and are locked in position to resist movement of the food between the compartments  26  and to resist any movement of the propellers  24  during the dining activity, Thus, the propellers  24 , which are preferably constituted of a resilient material, such as plastic, are slightly flexed, bent and tensioned, until the propellers  24  are angularly offset by the angular distance “x” (see  FIG. 2 ) from the pin axes  34  prior to locking the tensioned propellers  24  in position on the plate  10 . 
     The propellers  24  have outer ends that extend past the periphery  12 . The periphery  12  of the plate  10  has a first plurality or set of equiangularly arranged slits  18 A for receiving the outer ends of the propellers  24  when the inner ends are mounted in the closed slots  18 , and a second plurality or set of equiangularly arranged slits  20 A for receiving the outer ends of the propellers  24  when the inner ends are mounted in the open slots  20 . The propellers  24  are tensioned as described above by being bent to the angular distance “x” that is shown in  FIG. 2 . The outer ends of the tensioned propellers  24  are pushed with pressure into the set of slits  18 A or  20 A and, thus, the tensioned propellers  24  are received, held tightly, and locked within their respective sets of slits  18 A or  20 A with a locking force during the dining activity until the tensioned propellers  24  are unlocked, as described below during the recreational activity. 
     Once the food and/or liquid substances have been consumed and/or the eating and/or drinking activity is over, the plate  10  need not be discarded as in the known art, but can be used for a different purpose, such as in recreation, in which the propeller food plate assembly is thrown and spun, i.e., rotated about the axis  14 , in the air by a user. The propeller food plate assembly can be thrown and tossed back-and-forth from one person to one or more other persons during a “throw-and-catch” recreational sports activity or game that is familiarly known as “playing frisbee”. To initiate the recreational activity or flight, the tensioned propellers  24  are unlocked, for example, by lifting the outer ends of the tensioned propellers  24  out of their respective sets of slits  18 A or  20 A with a lifting force sufficient to overcome the aforementioned locking force. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner ends or pins  32  of the propellers  24  are mounted in the slots  18 , or alternatively in the slots  20 , with a clearance, and the pins  32  are movable along the slots  18  or  20  when the propellers  24  are unlocked during the recreational activity. At a beginning stage of the flight, the propeller food plate assembly is initially thrown and spun, i.e., rotated, in the air by the user. The propeller component and the plate component initially engage each other in a torque-transmitting relationship during their joint rotation about the vertical axis  14  during such flight and, together with the propellers  24  that have contoured, aerodynamic surfaces, cause the assembly to further spin and rotate about the vertical axis  14  with an enhanced aerodynamic flight characteristic, which is determined and controlled, at least in part, by the aerodynamic surfaces of the specific propellers  24  that are used. 
     At a subsequent stage of the recreational activity or flight, the propeller component, i.e., the propellers  24  and the collar  22  together, moves along the slots  18  or  20  relative to the plate component. The propellers  24  advantageously provide elevation and lift to the plate component in accordance with Bernoulli&#39;s principle, and also rotate the plate component with gyroscopic inertia about the vertical axis  14  to enhance and extend its flying range, which is effected by also raising and/or lowering the propeller component along the vertical axis  14 . The plate component is balanced during such rotary motion. A discussion of Bernoulli&#39;s principle and of gyroscopic inertia can be found in the, publication “The Physics of Flying Discs”, by Eugene Motoyama, published Dec. 13, 2002. 
     When the upwardly dosed slots  18  are used, the inner ends or pins  32  of the propellers  24  are confined within the upwardly closed slots  18  throughout the recreational activity. Analogously, the inner ends or pins  32  of the propellers  24  may be mounted in the upwardly open slots  20  with a clearance and are movable along the slots  18  when the propellers  24  are unlocked during the recreational activity. When the upwardly open slots  20  are used, the inner ends or pins  32  of the propellers  24  may escape from the upwardly open slots  20 , and the propeller component may fly away or glide from the plate component during the recreational activity due to inertia. In the event that the collar  22  is made up of a plurality of the collar segments  23 ,  25 ,  27 , as described above in connection with the upwardly open slots  20 , then the interconnected collar segments will move, and fly away, as one piece, relative to the plate component. 
     Only a single propeller component is used during the dining activity.  FIG. 4  illustrates a modified slotted embodiment used in the recreational activity and has a plurality of additional propeller components, each comprising a respective plurality of the propellers  24  and a respective collar  22 , The propeller components are stacked in levels or tiers, one directly above, and vertically aligned with, one another, on the plate  10  along the vertical axis  14 . In this vertically aligned stacked modification, one, or more, or all, of the propeller components may escape, one by one, by inertia from the upwardly open slots  20  and fly away or glide from the plate component during the recreational activity, Any number of the propeller components and tiers may be utilized or combined. All the directly stacked, combined propeller components may be considered as effectively acting as a single propeller component, where the additional propeller components increase the total aerodynamic surface area for the propeller food plate assembly to enhance the aerodynamic flight characteristics and flying performance of the assembly. The propeller components may advantageously be differently colored, for example, with bright or glowing colors, to enhance the visual and ornamental effect when they separate and fly away or glide from the plate component. 
     In contrast to the slotted embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 , in which the upwardly open slots  20  and the upwardly closed slots  18  extend radially all the way through the central portion  16 ,  FIG. 5  illustrates another modified slotted embodiment in which a plurality of equiangularly arranged slots extend only partially through the central portion  16  and, in effect, form cavities or radially outwardly open slots  42  on an outer surface of the central portion  16 . One set of the slots  42  may be upwardly open. Another set of the slots  42  may be upwardly closed”. Both sets of the slots  42  may be employed in the same embodiment. 
     In addition, the central portion  16  of  FIG. 5  is formed at its upper end region above the upwardly closed slots  42  with the aforementioned angled, annular, tapered guide  36  that is upwardly open and extends downwardly and outwardly of the vertical axis  14 . As before, when the upwardly closed slots  42  are used, the propeller component is initially placed above the plate component, and the inner end or pin  32  of each propeller  24  is initially received in the tapered guide  36 . For easy assembly, the propeller component may be slightly tilted relative to the plate component. Thereupon, the resilient collar  22  is forced with a pressure force downwardly over the central portion  16  towards a bottom of the plate  10 . During this downward movement, each pin  32  slides and moves vertically downwardly and outwardly along the tapered guide  36 . Also, during this downward movement, the outward movement of each pin  32  causes the resilient collar  22  to Hex radially outwardly as the resilient collar  22  approaches the bottom of the plate  10  limit the linear pins  32  enter, and are mounted with clearance, in the upwardly closed slots  42 . When assembled on the plate  10 , the collar  22  has a free-running fit with the central portion  16 . Each pin  32  preferably has a rounded outer surface  38  to facilitate the sliding of the pin  32  along the tapered guide  36  by reducing friction. Although  FIG. 5  shows that the pin  32  is received in the slot  42  which is upwardly closed, the pin  42  may also be freely received in a slot  42  which is upwardly open, in which case, the tapered guide  36  could be omitted. 
     The central portion  16  of  FIG. 5  bounds an interior space that can receive a cup for holding a liquid. Thus, the central portion  16  cru) serve as, and replace, the aforementioned cup holder  28 , Thus, the central portion  16  of  FIG. 5  serves not only as the mount for the propeller component, but also serves as a cup holder. The central portion  16  of  FIG. 5  has a solid surface that prevents a finger inserted into the finger hole  30  from coming into inadvertent contact with any food and/or liquid substance. In other variations, the pin  32  may be press-fitted into the inner end of each propeller  24 , and each propeller  24  may be keyed to the collar  22 . Also, the pin  32  may be retractable or detachable from its respective propeller  24 . 
     At a beginning stage of the recreational activity, the propeller food plate assembly is initially thrown and spun, i.e., rotated, in the air by a user at various orientations, such as at a generally horizontal orientation generally parallel to the ground. The pins  32  of the propeller component and the slots  18 ,  20 ,  42  of the plate component initially engage each other in a torque-transmitting relationship during their joint rotation about the vertical axis  14  during such flight, and, together with the propellers  24  that have contoured, aerodynamic surfaces, cause the assembly to further spin and rotate with an increased torque about the vertical axis  14  to enhance the overall flying performance or aerodynamic flight characteristic, which is determined and controlled, at least in part, by the aerodynamic surfaces of the specific propellers  24  that are used. 
     At a subsequent stage of the recreational activity or flight, when spun in the air in a generally parabolic trajectory, after the top of the parabolic trajectory has been reached, the propeller food plate assembly starts to descend towards the ground, the propeller component, Le., the propellers  24  and the collar  22  together, moves away from the plate component, and the propeller component tends to ascend the slots  18  or  20  or  42  due to inertia. In the case where the upwardly open slots  20  are employed, one, some, or all, of the propeller components may separate from, and fly off, the plate component, one by one, due to inertia. 
     Different shapes and angles for the contoured surfaces of the propellers  24 , different lengths of the propellers  24 , different total aerodynamic surface areas for the propellers  24 , different numbers and layouts of the propellers  24 , and different orientations of the propeller food plate assembly can create different aerodynamic flight characteristics, flight patterns, and overall aerodynamic performances. For example, if the propeller food plate assembly is thrown and spun at a wide vertical orientation that is angularly offset from the vertical that is perpendicular to the ground, then a propeller component may return to a thrower with a boomerang-type return action. The plate  10  may preferably be formed with a curved bottom surface  44  (see  FIG. 4 ) that is shaped like a wing or air foil to further enhance the aerodynamic, flying performance, The propellers  24  may be interchangeably mounted on the collar  22 , in which case propellers having different aerodynamic characteristics, different profiled curvatures or shapes, and different lengths may be selected and substituted for other propellers to achieve different flying performances. Flight patterns can also extend between multiple users. When multiple propeller components having different aerodynamic characteristics are used, each propeller component that flies off the plate component may travel along its own unique trajectory or flight pattern. This enhances the user game-playing experience where one or more users are challenged to catch these differently flying propeller components. 
     Turning now to the unslotted embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, the central portion  16  and the collar  22  are each preferably polygonal in shape, e.g., as shown, equilateral triangles, etc. Once assembled, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the polygonal collar  22  closely surrounds the polygonal central portion  16  with a free-running fit clearance. The aforementioned slots  18 ,  20 ,  42  on the central portion  16  have been eliminated. The inner ends of the propellers  24  are not inserted into any non-existent slots, but instead, are integral with, or connected directly to, the collar  22 . For example, the inner ends may be studs that are press-fitted in corresponding bores in the collar  22 , and thus, each propeller  24  may be keyed to the collar  22 , Once the embodiment of  FIG. 6  is thrown and spun in the air, the polygonal central portion  16  of the plate component physically engages the surrounding polygonal collar  22  of the propeller component, and they initially jointly rotate in a torque-transmitting relationship. Subsequently, the propellers  24  increase the overall torque, and the propeller and plate components eventually separate from one another, as described above. 
     In an alternate unslotted embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 , during the recreational activity, the propeller components are again stacked in levels or tiers, one above another, on the plate  10  along the vertical axis  14 , as described above in connection with  FIG. 4 , but, in addition, the propeller components are angularly offset by 180 degrees from each other about the vertical axis  14 , and the offset propeller components together resemble a star having a hexagram configuration, as seen from above the assembly, As shown in  FIG. 7 , a bottom polygonal collar  22 B of a lower propeller component is underneath, and angularly offset from, a top polygonal collar  22 T of an upper propeller component The bottom polygonal collar  22 B is located exteriorly of the polygonal central portion  16  with a free-running fit clearance. The propellers of the lower propeller component have been identified by the numerals  24 B, and propellers of the upper propeller component have been identified by the numerals  24 T. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , instead of using a press-fit connection, the inner end of each propeller  24 B is formed with a snap mount  46  into which each bottom polygonal collar  22 B is mounted. The same snap mount  46  is preferably employed for each propeller  24 T and its corresponding top polygonal collar  22 T. As also shown in  FIG. 8 , the height of the central portion  16  is about the same as the height of the lower propeller component. This provides clearance for the upper propeller component to be mounted on top of the lower propeller component without interference from the central portion  16 . As best shown in  FIG. 9 , the top polygonal collar  22 T is advantageously snap-mounted on the bottom polygonal collar  22 B, thereby securely holding and connecting the stacked propeller components together. These stacked and interconnected propeller components move in unison and maintain the hexagram configuration during their escape from the plate component at the subsequent stage of the recreational activity. 
     One or more light sources  50  are preferably added to the assembly. Each light source  50  may be an elongated glow stick, which is a self-contained, chemiluminescent light source. The glove stick  50  consists of an inner brittle container within an outer flexible translucent plastic tubular container. Each container holds a different chemical solution. When the outer container is flexed, the inner container breaks, allowing the solutions to combine, thereby causing a chemical reaction. After breaking, the glow stick  50  is shaken to thoroughly mix the components. The chemical reaction produces light through chemiluminescence. No external energy source is present 
     Each chemiluminescent light source.  50  is mounted on, and bent to be routed along, any external surface of the collars  22 B,  22 T. As shown, each chemiluminescent light source  50  is mounted on an upper surface of each of the collars  22 B,  22 T. The opposite ends of the light source  50  preferably meet at an end surface  52 . Preferably, each upper surface of the collars  22 B,  22 T is formed with a channel into which the light source  50  is received and securely held. The mounting of the chemiluminescent light source  50  on, and along, each of the collars  22 B,  22 T of the propeller components, which are interconnected in the aforementioned hexagram configuration, is particularly advantageous when the interconnected propeller components fly in unison away from the plate component, since the emitted light is also visible in the hexagram configuration. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the chemiluminescent light source.  50  can also be mounted on, and bent to be routed along, the periphery  12  of the plate  10 . The periphery  12  is advantageously also formed with a channel to receive and hold the light source. The use of such chemiluminescent light source  50  may also find beneficial uses in other flying devices, such as drones, frisbees, flying discs, etc. The chemiluminescent light source  50  may be employed not only during the recreational activity, but also during the dining activity. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , a plurality of the chemiluminescent light sources  50 A,  50 B,  50 C can also be bent, routed, and mounted on the underside or the bottom surface  44  of the plate  10 . The light sources  50 A,  50 B,  50 C may emit light of different colors that are characteristic of different holidays, such as red, white and blue in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday, or of different colors on flags of various countries in celebration of their national holidays, or of different colors of various sports teams, etc. Each light source  50 A,  50 B,  50 C is securely captured in a corresponding plurality of snap mounts  48 A,  48 B,  48 C, and may be readily interchanged or replaced with another light source of the same or a different color. As shown, the snap mounts  48 A.  48 B,  48 C are concentrically circular in shape, but they may be of any shape. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the differently colored light sources source  50 A,  50 B,  50 C can also be mounted on, and bent to be routed along, the periphery  12  of the plate  10 . The periphery  12  is advantageously modified and formed with a plurality of channels to receive and hold the light sources  50 A,  50 B,  50 C. All of these illuminated modifications create an attractive and ornamental light display not only during the recreational activity, but also during the dining activity, especially at night. 
     Turning now to the slotted embodiment of  FIG. 14 , this embodiment is analogous to that of  FIG. 1 , except rather than a single propeller component being illustrated, two propeller components are illustrated as being exteriorly mounted on, and vertically stacked along, the central portion  16 , each with a free-running fit clearance. As before, the central portion  16  has a first set of upwardly dosed slots  18  and a second set of upwardly open slots  20 . For clarity, a lower propeller component has a bottom collar  22 B and a plurality of bottom propellers  24 B, and an upper propeller component has a top collar  22 T and a plurality of top propellers  24 T. 
     The bottom propellers  24 B have inner ends preferably configured as pins  32  that are mounted in the upwardly closed slots  18  with clearance. The top propellers  24 T also have inner ends preferably configured as pins  32  that are mounted in the upwardly open slots  20  with clearance. The lower propeller component is underneath the upper propeller component and is vertically spaced therefrom by the illustrated vertical dimension “z”. The top propellers  24 T are angularly offset from the bottom propellers  24 B by the illustrated angular dimension “y”. 
     During the recreational activity, all the pins  32  engage all the slots  18 ,  20  in a torque-transmitting relationship during an initial stage of the recreational activity. During a subsequent stage of the recreational activity, the pins  32  in the upwardly open slots  20  may escape therefrom, and the upper propeller component may fly away or glide from the plate component due to inertia, as described above. Any number of additional propeller components is contemplated by this disclosure. Thus, the assembly may have any number of levels or tiers of propeller components. Each additional propeller component or tier increases the number of the propellers of the assembly to enhance an aerodynamic flight characteristic of the assembly. The aerodynamic flight characteristic is also enhanced by selection of the vertical dimension “z” and/or by selection of the angular dimension “y”. 
     Rather than using one or more chemiluminescent light sources  50 ,  FIG. 15  depicts a resilient, flexible cover  60  on which a battery-operated light source  70 , as described below, is mounted. The cover  60  is light-transmissive, preferably transparent. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the cover  60  is mounted over the bottom surface  44  of the plate  10 . More particularly, the cover  60  has a curved lip  62  that is preferably snap-mounted on the curved periphery  12  of the plate  10 . The aforementioned propeller component(s) have been omitted from  FIG. 16  for the sake of simplifying the drawings. 
     A battery  64 , preferably a rechargeable DC battery, and/or a camera  94 , as described below, are also mounted on the cover  60 , preferably at a central location. The battery  64  is held in place by a pair of supports  66  at opposite sides of the battery  64 . A push button switch  68  is connected to the battery  64  and/or the camera  94  and to the battery-operated light source  70 , which is show as a plurality of lights, preferably light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  72 , arranged along elongated electrical conductors that are contained within a flexible ribbon, stripe, or string. The light source  70  may be arranged in any pattern, such as the illustrated five-pointed star, The light source  70 , the switch  68 , the battery  64 , and the camera  94  may be held in place by being sandwiched and pressed between the cover  60  and the bottom surface  44  of the plate  10  in a cavity or compartment  76  and/or may be additionally held in place by tape or Velcro (not illustrated). It will be understood that a plurality of batteries  64  and a plurality of light sources  70  may also be used. 
     In use, the user may actuate the switch  68 , and energize the LEDs  72  and/or the camera  94 . Then, the user may snap-mount the curved lip  62  of the cover  60  over the curved periphery  12  of the plate  10 . The light emitted by the LEDs  72  will pass through the transparent cover  60 . The camera  94  will capture images through the transparent cover  60 . In this example, an illuminated five-pointed star pattern of light will be visible. A bottom surface  78  of the cover  60  is preferably aerodynamic in shape. The bottom surface  78  may bear pre-applied indicia, such as advertisements, logos, paintings, artwork, slogans, ornamentation, etc., and/or may also receive indicia that are subsequently applied by the user, for example, with washable ink or paint. 
     Rather than mounting the battery  64  on the cover  60 , the battery  64  can also be mounted on the plate  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 17-18 . As best shown in  FIG. 18 , a hollow cylindrical neck  80  extends axially downwardly of the plate  10  away from the center finger hole  30 , and is centered on the axis  14 . The neck  80  is preferably integral with the plate  10  and is preferably constituted of a resilient material. An upper region of a support  82  is axially inserted into the neck  80 , The neck  80  has an annular recess  84  that receives with snap action an annular projection  86  that is provided exteriorly around the upper region of the support  82 , The support  82  is preferably mounted and held in a central position by the aforementioned snap-action engagement, but it will be understood that other types of engagements, such as a friction-fit, may also be used. 
     The battery  64  is mounted on, and preferably suspended from, the support  82  by one or more endless, elastic bands  88 ,  90 , or Velcro strips. The support  82  has a lower region formed with at least one channel, and preferably, a pair of cross channels that are arranged at right angles to each other, and the bands  88 ,  90  are routed through and past these channels to form a plurality of end loops  92 . The battery  64  is suspended from these end loops  92  within the compartment. The bands  88 ,  90  can accommodate batteries of different shapes and sizes, 
     As previously described, one or more batteries  64  may be used to power the light sources, and in addition, may be used to power one or more cameras  94  (see  FIG. 15 ) that may also be mounted within the compartment  76 , Each camera  94  may capture and record images, and/or transmit captured images via wireless link, e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc., to a receiver or display, for example, on one&#39;s smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 15-18 , the battery  64  and/or camera  94  are centrally mounted on the axis  14 , and the assembly is balanced during both the dining and recreational activities. 
     In all of the illustrated embodiments, the collars  22 ,  22 A,  22 B are illustrated as being rotationally symmetric. It will be understood that non-rotationally-symmetric collars  22 ,  22 A,  22 B may also be employed. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. 
     The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions, The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises, . . . , a,” “has . . . , a,” or “contains . . . a,” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains the element The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein, The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.