Patent Publication Number: US-2016242582-A1

Title: Plate And Paddle Assembly For Handling Hot Food Items

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to dishware, and more particularly to dishware for hot food items. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Foods often need to be heated before serving. Many recipes call for food to be heated before serving. Some foods must be heated for safety reasons; they may contain eggs or other raw products which are unsafe to eat without first raising their temperatures to destroy harmful elements. Other foods need to be heated to achieve a certain culinary effect, such as getting yeast to rise into the dough of bread or cheese to melt into a soup. Still other foods simply taste better when warm than cold. 
     Different methods for heating foods have been around for thousands of years. Food can be heated with fire, with boiling water, with direct or indirect heat, even with sunlight. Sometimes heat from the heat source is applied directly to the food, such as might occur when a pig is roasted on a spit. Other times, the heat is less direct, such as when heating a pot of water into which an egg has been placed for hard boiling. In sum, there are a number of ways of heating food items. 
     Often, when food is heated in a dish such as a bowl or a plate, the dish itself becomes hot as well. If the food is heated in an oven, the temperature of the dish will usually rise close to that of the oven. If the food is heated in a microwave oven, the dish can occasionally become much hotter than the food itself, depending on the type of food and the material construction of the dish. Hot dishes become a serious problem when trying to remove the food from the oven or microwave oven. A cook can severely burn his or her hands if he or she grabs the dish directly. 
     As a result, some cooks use dish rags or oven mitts to remove hot dishes. However, oven mitts are typically thick and inflexible, and provide very little tactile response so that the cook often has a poor grip. The cook can accidentally lose hold of the dish and drop it. Or, if a dish rag is used, the rag can fall into the food, contaminating the food with threads or fibers, or possibly even with food from previous meals. Further, dish rags can become untidy and may not be readily available to remove a dish from an oven or microwave oven. An improved way to remove a hot dish from an oven or microwave oven is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An assembly of a plate and a paddle is useful for removing hot food items from an oven. The plate includes a peripheral edge, a lower surface, and a plurality of feet integrally formed to the lower surface. The paddle includes a handle and a blade extending away from the handle. The paddle moves between a free position and a seated position. In the free position of the paddle, the paddle is away from the plate. In the seated position of the paddle, the paddle is received along the lower surface of the plate and between the plurality of feet on the plate, so as to support the plate when removing it from the oven. Channels are defined between the plurality of feet, and in the seated position of the paddle, one of the channels exclusively receives the blade of the paddle. Each of the feet has a height which is greater than the height of the paddle. Opposed tabs project laterally from the handle, and in the seated position of the paddle, the tabs are in contact with two of the feet. A demarcation indication is formed across the handle of the paddle, and in the seated position of the paddle, the demarcation indication is registered with the peripheral edge of the plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a plate and paddle assembly for handling hot food items, with the paddle in a free position; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the plate and paddle assembly of  FIG. 1  with the paddle in the free position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the plate and paddle assembly of  FIG. 1  with the paddle in a seated position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the plate and paddle assembly of  FIG. 1  with the paddle in the seated position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now is made to the drawings, in which the same reference characters are used throughout the different figures to designate the same elements.  FIG. 1  is an assembly  10  for handling and removing hot items from a microwave oven, convection oven, Dutch oven, pizza oven, or other like oven for heating food items (hereinafter “oven”). The assembly  10  consists of a plate  11  and a paddle  12 . The plate  11  is a microwave-safe plate on which food to be cooked is set. The food, together with the plate  11 , is heated, and the plate  11  is then removed from the oven. The paddle  12  is useful for removing the plate  11  because it provides a stable way to remove the plate  11  which could be quite hot. 
     The plate  11  includes a body  20  having an upper surface  21  and a lower surface  22  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) joining at an annular peripheral edge  23 . The body  20  of the plate  11  is slightly concave, having a round base  24 , a slightly upwardly-turned wide rim  25 , and a short, annular, transitional ring  26  between the base  24  and the rim  25 . The base  24 , at the bottom of the body  20 , is wide and flat. The ring  26  extends around the base  24  and projects upwardly a short distance. The rim  25  is wide, extending around the ring  26  and projecting upwardly and outwardly therefrom. Overall, the body  20  has a low profile. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the lower surface  22  of the plate  11  is formed with four feet  30 . The feet  30  are identical in every respect other than location and orientation, and as such, the discussion herein will generally be with reference only to one of the feet  30 , with the understanding that the ensuing description of one of the feet  30  applies equally to the other feet  30  unless otherwise explained. Further, each of the feet will be identified more specifically with the reference character  30  appended with an A, B, C, or D to differentiate the feet  30 , but when describing a foot non-specifically, or several feet together, the reference character  30  will be used instead. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , the foot  30 A is a downwardly-projecting body formed integrally and monolithically to the body  20  of the plate  11 . The foot  30 A elevates the lower surface  22  of the plate  11  above a surface on which the plate  11  rests. The foot  30 A has a top  31  which is formed to the lower surface  22  of the plate  11 , and an opposed bottom  32  which is flat. The top  31  is formed across an outer portion of the base  24 , the ring  26 , and an inner portion of the rim  25 . Between the top and bottom  31  and  32 , the foot  30 A has a height A between the top and bottom  31  and  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The foot  30 A has an arcuate outer face  33 , and two opposed inner faces  34  and  35  converging from opposite sides of the outer face  33 . The inner and outer faces  33 ,  34 , and  35  are perpendicular to the bottom  32 , so that the foot  30 A has a generally regular, triangular prismatic shape. The arcuate outer face  33  is curved along a similar radius of curvature as that of the plate  11 , and the inner faces  34  and  35  are transverse and roughly perpendicular to each other. 
     As described above, the feet  30  are identical in every respect other than location and orientation. As such, each of the feet  30  has a top  31 , bottom  32 , outer face  33 , and inner faces  34  and  35 . Because each foot  30  is identical, and to preserve the clarity of the illustration, not all of the drawings carry reference characters identifying every structural feature or element of each of the feet  30 . Each foot  30 , however, is disposed in a different location. The feet  30  are circumferentially offset about the plate  11  so that neighboring feet  30  are separated by approximately 90 degrees or one quarter of the plate  11 . Each foot  30  is thus opposed from each other foot  30 . The foot  30 B is circumferentially spaced apart from the foot  30 A, the foot  30 D is circumferentially spaced apart from the foot  30 B, the foot  30 C is circumferentially spaced apart from the foot  30 D, and the foot  30 A is circumferentially spaced apart from the  30 C. 
     The feet  30  cooperate to define two channels  40  and  41  under the plate  11 . The channels  40  and  41  are indicated generally by the arrowed lines  40  and  41  in  FIG. 2 . The channels are wide, elongate areas under the plate  11  size and shaped to receive the paddle  12  between the feet  30 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the channel  40  is formed between a first set of opposed feet  30 A and  30 C and a second set of opposed feet  30 B and  30 D. The channel  40  is a wide, elongate space for receiving the paddle  12  under the plate  11 . The channel  40  is defined along the lower surface  22  between the inner faces  34  and  35  of the foot  30 A and the opposed foot  30 C, respectively, and between the inner faces  35  and  34  of the foot  30 B and the opposed foot  30 D, respectively. The lower surface  22  of the plate  11  along the channel  40  is flat and featureless. The inner faces  34  and  35  of the feet  30 A and  30 C are directly opposed from each other, and are parallel to each other, so that they bound the channel  40  at one end of the channel  40 . Likewise, the inner faces  35  and  34  of the feet  30 B and  30 D are directly opposed from each other, and are parallel to each other, so that they bound the channel  40  at another end of the channel  40 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the feet  30 A and  30 C are spaced apart from each other by a distance B between the inner faces  34  and  35 , respectively. The feet  30 B and  30 D are similarly spaced an equal distance apart, so that the channel  40  has a constant width equal to the distance B. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the channel  41  is formed between opposed feet  30 A and  30 B and between opposed feet  30 C and  30 D. Like the channel  40 , the channel  41  is a wide, elongate space for receiving the paddle  12  under the plate  11 . The channel  41  is defined along the lower surface  22  between the inner faces  35  and  34  of the foot  30 A and the opposed foot  30 B, respectively, and between the inner faces  34  and  35  of the foot  30 C and the opposed foot  30 D, respectively. The lower surface  22  of the plate  11  along the channel  41  is flat and featureless. The inner faces  35  and  34  of the feet  30 A and  30 B are directly opposed from each other, and are parallel to each other, so that they bound the channel  41  at one end of the channel  41 . Likewise, the inner faces  34  and  35  of the feet  30 C and  30 D are directly opposed from each other, and are parallel to each other, so that they bound the channel  41  at another end of the channel  41 . It is noted that the perspective view of  FIG. 4  seems to make the inner faces  35  and  34  of the feet  30 A and  30 B, respectively, and the inner faces  34  and  35  of the feet  30 C and  30 D, respectively, not appear parallel, but this is merely a characteristic of the perspective view; they are actually parallel. The feet  30 A and  30 B are similarly spaced apart from each other by a distance C between the inner faces  35  and  34 , respectively. The feet  30 C and  30 D are spaced an equal distance apart, so that the channel  41  has a constant width equal to the distance C. The distance C is equal to the distance B, so that the channels  40  and  41  have the same width. The channels  40  and  41  are aligned transverse with respect to each other, and are preferably perpendicular to each other. 
     Turning back to  FIG. 1 , the paddle  12  is shown. The paddle  12  includes a handle  52  and a blade  53 . The paddle  12  includes a contiguous top surface  54  extending across both the handle  52  and the blade  53 , and also has an opposed, continuous bottom surface  55  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) also extending across both the handle  52  and the blade  53 . The paddle  12  includes a short sidewall  60  that extends continuously around the paddle  12  from a proximal end  61  of the paddle  12 , along a side  63  of the paddle  12 , around a distal end  62  of the paddle  12 , and along a side  64  of the paddle  12  back to the proximal end  61 . 
     The handle  52  of the paddle  12  is relatively wide and flat. The top surface  54  along the handle  52  is flat, and the handle  52  widens slightly from a location between the handle  52  and the blade  53  to the proximal end  61  of the paddle  12 . A hole  65  is formed proximate to the proximal end  61  entirely through the handle  52  from the top surface  54  to the bottom surface  55 . Referring briefly to  FIG. 2 , the bottom surface  55  of the handle  52  is formed with concave contours  70  aligned transversely across the handle  52 . Three contours  70  are preferably formed into the handle  52 . The contours  70  are located distal to the hole  65 . A demarcation line  71  is marked on the top surface  54  of the handle  52 . The demarcation line  71  has a slight curve, and is marked on the top surface  54  with ink, etching, engraving, a decal, or some other similar, permanent marking method. The demarcation line  71  may be black, red, white, or some other color or contrasting pattern making it easily discernable from the top surface  55 . 
     The blade  53  is a wide, flat projection from the handle  52  beginning just distal to the demarcation line  71 . The blade  53  includes a set of tabs  72  and  73  projecting laterally from the sides  63  and  64 , respectively. The tabs  72  and  73  are thin projections extending outwardly from the blade  53 . Beyond the tabs  72  and  73 , the sides  63  and  64  are straight and parallel, rounding together into the distal end  62 . The top and bottom surfaces  54  and  55  of the blade  53  are flat and parallel with respect to each other. The blade  53  has a constant height D between the top and bottom surfaces  54  and  55 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The height D is just less than the height A of the feet  30 . The blade  53  further has a constant width E between the sides  63  and  64 . The width E is equal to the widths B and C of the channels  40  and  41 , respectively. The tabs  72  and  73  extend beyond the width E of the blade  53 . 
     In operation, the assembly  10  is useful for extracting hot food items from an oven. The food item desired to be heated is placed on the plate  11 , and the plate  11  is set into the oven. The plate  11  is preferably set on a level resting surface, such as a rotating plate in a microwave oven, a rack in a convection oven, a hearth bottom in a pizza oven, or some other substantially flat bottom resting surface in another type of oven. The oven is operated according to a set of instructions for heating the food item. In heating the food item, the oven will also heat the plate  11 . When the heating process is finished, the paddle  12  is inserted into the oven. From a free position of the paddle  12 , the paddle  12  is directed below the plate  11 , between the lower surface  22  of the plate  11  and the resting surface on which the plate  11  is placed. The lower surface  22  of the plate  11  is elevated above the resting surface by a height A, the height of the feet  30 , which provides room to insert the paddle  12 . The paddle  12  has a height D which is lust less than the height A, so that the paddle  12  can slide between the lower surface  22  of the plate  11  and the resting surface. The paddle  12  is registered with one of the channels  40  and  41  by directing the distal end  62  toward the one of the channels  40  and  41  (the channel  40  will be used hereinafter for description of the operation of the assembly  10 ). 
     The length of the paddle  12 , which extends between the proximal and distal ends  61  and  62 , is aligned with the channel  40 , and the paddle  12  is slid under the lower surface  22  of the plate  11  so that the blade  53  is introduced into the channel  40 . The rounded distal end  62  contacts the feet  30 , which will direct the distal end  62  laterally slightly so as to ensure alignment of the paddle  12 . Advancement of the paddle  12  continues, with the sides  63  and  64  being received between the inner faces  34  and  35 . Advancement further continues, with the blade  53  parallel to the plate  11 , so that the top surface  54  of the paddle  12  is placed in sliding contact with the lower surface  22  of the plate  11 . Eventually, the distal end  62  reaches the opposed set of feet  30 , and the distal end  62  moves between those opposed set of feet  30 . Advancement ends when the tabs  72  and  73  contact and engage the feet  30 , defining a seated position of the paddle  12  to the plate  11 . In the seated position of the paddle  12 , the distal end  62  of the paddle  53  extends beyond one pair of the feet  30 , the tabs  72  and  73  are received against the other pair of the feet  30 , and the demarcation line  71  is registered with the peripheral edge  23  of the plate  11 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The demarcation line  71  has the same curvature as the peripheral edge  23 , so that, when the paddle  12  is seated to the plate  11 , the demarcation line  71  registers with and corresponds exactly to the peripheral edge  23 . The cook sees that the demarcation line  71  is directly below and along the peripheral edge  23 . Should the paddle  12  not be seated to the plate  11 , the demarcation line  71  is visible apart from the peripheral edge  23 , acting as a warning that the paddle  12  is not fully seated or that the plate  11  has begun to slip off the paddle  12 . Though this process is described in a series of sequential instructions, it should be understood that application of the paddle  12  to the plate  11  is accomplished in preferably one smooth, continuous movement. Further, though application is described with respect to the blade  53 , the paddle  12  may also be applied to the channel  41 . The plate  11  receives the paddle  12  exclusively in either the channel  40  or the channel  41 . 
     In the seated position, the paddle  12  is received and contained within the channel  40  snugly. The width B of the channel  40  is equal to the width E of the blade  53 , so that a snug-fit engagement is formed between the paddle  12  and the channel  40 . The inner faces  34  and  35  of the feet  30 A and  30 B, respectively, limit lateral movement of the plate  11  and paddle  12  with respect to each other on the side  64  of the paddle  12 . The inner faces  35  and  34  of the feet  30 C and  30 D, respectively, limit lateral movement of the plate  11  and paddle  12  with respect to each other on the side  63  of the paddle  12 . The interaction between the feet  30 B and  30 D with the tabs  73  and  72 , respectively, (as shown in an exemplary fashion in  FIG. 4 ) limits rearward movement of the plate  11  over the paddle  12 . The plate  11  is thus unlikely to slip off the paddle  12  unless the assembly  10  is tilted dramatically. The engagement between the plate  11  and paddle  12  is thus secure, and the plate  11  can be removed from the oven. The paddle  12  is lifted upwardly so that the plate  11  is lifted as well, which ensures that the top surface  54  is in contact against the lower surface  22  of the plate  11 . The paddle  12  is then withdrawn from the oven with the plate  11  atop the blade  53 . The paddle  12  is maneuvered to a stable location, such as a kitchen counter top, dining room table, customer&#39;s place setting, or other like flat location. The paddle  12  is lowered until the feet  30  contact the stable location, and then the paddle  12  is withdrawn from underneath the plate  11 , back to the free position of the paddle  12 . The plate  11  has thus been removed from the oven without using hot pads or oven mitts, and without risk of personal injury. If the plate  11  needs to be moved, again, the paddle  12  is simply slid under the plate  11  as described above and used to lift and move the plate  11 . 
     A preferred embodiment is fully and clearly described above so as to enable one having skill in the art to understand, make, and use the same. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made to the described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. To the extent that such modifications do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.